In my research I look at the intersections of media audiences, texts, platforms and producers, focusing especially on the role played by media in people's everyday lives. I am interested how social practices of engagements with media correspond to changes in modern digital cultures.

In my first book, Music Generations in the Digital Age, I have explored multiple levels of engaging with music in the digital age: participation, interpretation, circulation and cultural production. Through examples of Japanese idol culture and virtual performers, I have discussed musical experiences as markers of social, national and generational identities. The work is unique as it includes ethnographic insight from audiences and creators, painting a complex picture of music circulation and reception in the age of streaming platforms and digital devices.

Extending this work, I am currently investigating creativity and affect on digital platforms, focusing on emotional and deliberative aspects of social media engagements.

I am also interested in the issues of voice, power and representation in and through media. My work in this area has focused on media framing of crisis and migration as well as new on new digital forms of communication on news platforms.

I hold a PhD in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science, an MA in Media and Cultural Studies from Tohoku University, and a BA in Sociology from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan. Prior to joining King’s I taught in the Department of Media and Communications at the LSE.

For a full publication list, see here.

Research Interests and PhD Supervision

• Media audiences; participation and interpretation
• Representation, crisis, migration
• Popular music, sound and image
• Virtual performers
• Fans and fandoms

For more details, please see my full research profile.