East Asian Studies

Yoko Nishimura’s primary research expertise and teaching experience lie in the archaeology, history, religions, wealth inequality, and languages of East Asia and the Near East. Her work focuses on the material cultures and historical documents related to the peoples who have inhabited these regions since prehistoric times. Her research centers on domestic artifacts and everyday activities, as well as economic inequality among non-elite populations, particularly within residential and mortuary contexts.

In her archaeological research, Nishimura also advocates for the study of “diaspora” artifact collections—objects housed in museums far from their original excavation sites. Her recent projects explore how quotidian items, such as body ornaments and household tools or utensils, were used in houses and intramural graves of third-millennium settlements in Japan and Turkey.

At Gettysburg College, Nishimura primarily teaches social science courses related to Japanese society and culture. These courses focus on topics such as wealth inequality, everyday life in ancient and modern times, over 150 years of Japan–U.S. relations, the relationship between Japanese religions and anime/manga, as well as issues surrounding World War II and gender