Publications
This page introduces my major publications.
Sea Currents in Nineteenth-Century Art, Science and Culture.
Davidson, Kathleen and Molly Duggins Duggins (eds). Bloomsbury, London, 2023. 314 pages.
I wrote the eleventh chapter, 'Aquariums Under the Rising Sun: A Cultural History of Early Public Aquariums in Japan, 1882–1903', pp. 191–207), which was a revision of a section from my previous book, 'Water Zoos: A Cultural History'.
The chapter describes how, in the 19th century, the Japanese imported the concept of the 'aquarium' from Europe and struggled to build it, combining it with the traditional image of the dragon palace (a mythical underwater realm).
The chapters by other authors are exciting, too!
In the 2024 AAANZ Arts Writing and Publishing Awards, this book was highly commended in the anthology category.
動物園・その歴史と冒険
Zoo: A History Full of Adventures. Chuokoronshinsha, 2021 (written in Japanese). 327 pages.
I wrote this book to introduce the history of zoos to a general audience, adding detailed episodes such as animal shows in Roman arenas, 'dinosaur hunting' organised by the German animal dealer Carl Hagenbeck, and the discovery of the Komodo dragon.
The book also explores the relationship between zoos and colonialism, the turmoil caused by the two world wars, the post-war animal welfare and animal rights movements, and the worldwide emergence of 'theme zoos' (zoos with themed areas).
水族館の文化史
The Exhibition of Oceans: The Cultural History of Public Aquariums in Europe, the United States and Japan. Bensei Shuppan, Tokyo, 2018 (written in Japanese). 360 pages.
Focusing on the history of aquariums, this book begins with ancient myths of aquatic animals and the age of fishponds. It then explores the evolution of modern aquariums from the 19th to the 21st century, examining their relationship with shifting perceptions of fish and the sea.
The book also covers animal welfare, animal rights, animal conservation, and new technologies used in the latest animal exhibitions, such as robotics and virtual reality. The book was awarded the Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities in 2018.
動物園の文化史
A Cultural History of Zoos: 5,000 Years of Human–Animal Relationships. Published by Bensei Shuppan in Tokyo in 2014 (written in Japanese). 317 pages.
This book discusses the origins and evolution of zoological gardens in Europe, America, and Japan, providing cultural and historical context from ancient times to the 20th century.
