Minakata Kumagusu's abnormal-psychological research-About the period when he lived in the Mt. Nachi

Author: Yasuda T
Affiliation: Kansai University
Conference/Journal: J Mind-Body Science
Date published: 2003
Other: Volume ID: 12 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 25-36 , Word Count: 127


Kumagusu Minakata is well known for his research in a great variety of fields. For about two years from 1902 he lived in the forest of Mt. Nachi, and during this period his studies focused on abnormal psychology in addition to his interests in botany, literature and folklore. Actually, he has been concerned in this topic from quite early. It was rather long before time this topic was recognized as one field of academic research in Japan. Minakata's research method was unique in a sense that others never anticipated, as he recorded the occurrence of the abnormal status of his own mind. Minakata continued to study this research subject even when it was rather neglected by the Japanese academism later on, and attempted to confirm a scientific viewpoint.