NEWS
2026.03.16
【Report】 The 87th AJI Frontier Seminar was held! Dr. Ayumi HOTTA, “Material Culture and Information Warfare of Mongolian Nomads”
On March 10, 2026, the 87th AJI Frontier Seminar was held. For this session, Dr. Ayumi Hotta (Visiting Researcher, the Research Center for Sustainability Science, Ritsumeikan University) delivered a presentation titled “Material Culture and Information Warfare of Mongolian Nomads.”
Specialized in the anthropology of material and information culture, Dr. Hotta employs ethnographic methods, including cohabitation in nomadic dwellings known as gers, to investigate the material culture in nomadic life. She began her presentation by challenging the dominant narrative that Mongolian nomads prefer a minimalist material existence necessitated by mobility. Contrarily, her experiences in Mongolia indicated a sophisticated level of material engagement and attachment. Through a case study of the Enkhbat family in Arkhangai Province, her research documented about 1,500 items within a single household. Crucially, she demonstrated that these objects are not merely functional, but are embedded in a dense web of personal episodes and collective memory meticulously preserved by the family.
Intriguingly, these narratives revealed that the collection included not only items purchased, with specific details on timing, location, and cost, but also a significant number of gifts and objects belonging to other households. Dr. Hotta’s research suggests that the exchange of goods is central to understanding the material culture of Arkhangai nomads. In this society, the movement of objects between households is a common affair, underpinned by everyday “information warfare,” a strategic form of communication. Her fieldwork demonstrates that nomads are remarkably strategic in deciding to whom they will or will not provide specific items. In a society where such reciprocity is the norm, the possession of an object marks the beginning of a potential negotiation process. The presentation highlighted a lifeworld where nomads constantly exchange information about their possessions in anticipation of future transactions.
During the Q&A session, participants raised a wide range of questions, including the conditions that determine one’s proficiency in material exchange, comparisons with nomadic material cultures in other regions, and the nature of information warfare from the perspective of the “requester” rather than just the “owner.” Dr. Hotta addressed each inquiry individually, leading to a lively discussion.
Dr. Ayumi Hotta making her presentation
Please visit the following link for previous AJI Frontier Seminars:
https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/research/aji/young_researcher/seminar/archive/