Bio
Kevin Kilcoyne is a combined M.A./Ph.D. student in the Asian Studies and Global Sociocultural Studies joint degree program. Drawing on his experiences living in the Japanese countryside, his research examines how shrinking rural communities navigate the challenges of demographic decline, including low fertility rates, outmigration, and population aging. He is particularly interested in the preservation of endangered cultural traditions, the role of agriculture in sustaining rural life, and community-led revitalization initiatives. In addition, he is interested in exploring the cultural concept of gaman and its embodiment in long-distance running in Japan. Methodologically, with a passion for photography, he is interested in incorporating visual methods in his research.
Areas of Interest
Rural communities in Japan; preservation of endangered cultural traditions in depopulating regions; rural migration and demographic change; Japanese agriculture and agrarian life; cultural conceptions of gaman and their expression in long-distance running; and revitalization initiatives in shrinking countryside towns.