Malavika Nataraj is a PhD student with a deep interest in the socio-cultural history of Japanese Buddhism during the medieval period. Her research explores how gender norms are constructed and communicated through Buddhist literature and performance, and how these shaped broader gendered ideologies. She is particularly interested in how women themselves participated in and shaped this religious discourse. Prior to her doctoral studies, she completed an MA in Japanese Studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where her thesis examined Ueda Akinari’s Ugetsu Monogatari within the religious and socio-political framework of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Malavika also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from India and a Master’s degree in Marketing from the United Kingdom. Prior to joining NUS, she worked as a writer, editor, and Japanese-English translator. From 2018 to 2021, she was an active Japanese Docent at the National Museum of Singapore and the Asian Civilizations Museum.