Prior to joining Saitama University, she was a researcher in Japan Broadcasting Cooperation (NHK) and in the Benesse Educational Research & Development Center (BERD). In 2004 she was awarded a PhD in International Communication from Division of Society, Culture, Media and Philosophy at Macquarie University on the interethnic distance of overseas Japanese presented in their ethnic media. This research is the basis of her book “Interethnic Attitude that Matters: The Structure of Japanese Ethnic Distance in the Global Context”. Her research focuses have been broadened from ethnic relations to media and international conflict, multicultural social marketing, and ethnic tourism.