Dr. Mari Nakamura is an assistant professor in the Department of Japanese Language and Culture at Tunghai University, Taiwan. Her research is centered on the intersection of popular culture and the cultural dimensions of Japan’s politics and international relations. She investigates the influence of popular culture and everyday cultural practices on political and social issues, exploring their broader implications for the politics of East Asia. She earned her Ph.D. from Leiden University. In 2016, she was awarded the Taiwan Fellowship and worked as a visiting researcher at the National Taiwan University. Prior to her current position at Tunghai University, Dr. Nakamura was a lecturer at Leiden University and the University of Central Lancashire. Her interdisciplinary methodology, which integrates cultural studies, media studies, and political science, provides valuable insights into the region’s sociopolitical dynamics.