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Alessandro Poletto

Lecturer in East Asian Religions, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis
Alessandro Poletto (he/they) specializes in the social and religious history of premodern Japan, with an emphasis on Buddhism in the early medieval period (tenth to the thirteenth century). He earned his PhD from Columbia University in 2020 with a dissertation entitled “The Culture of Healing in Early Medieval Japan: A Study in Premodern Epistemology,” in which he examined discourses and practices concerning healing and disease, with particular attention to the relationship between Buddhist healers and other technicians involved in the treatment of illness, namely court physicians and onmyōji. His other research and teaching interests include the understanding and ritual resolution of natural disasters in premodern East Asia, the history of the cultural exchanges between the Korean peninsula and the Japanese archipelago, and Buddhist material culture and archeology in East Asia.

His current research focuses on the material and textual dimensions of various types of deposits — within statues or under the ground — in order to get a grasp of Buddhism as practiced by lay Buddhists in early medieval Japan. Dedicatory or votive materials discovered inside Buddhist statues or in underground deposits (commonly known as kyōzuka) illustrate the motivations behind the undertaking of a certain burial of sutras, or the production of a copy of a specific sutra, allowing us to see the hopes, aspirations and anxieties of the people engaging in such practices, but also the ways in which they attempted to shape their destinies, and those of deceased dear ones, through their dedicatory good acts.

Before joining Washington University, Alessandro was a JSPS postdoctoral fellow at Kyoto University. He holds a B.A. from the University of Naples “L’Orientale,” and an M.A. from Osaka University.

Economy

UBS Sees Stock-Picking Opportunities in Europe Ahead of Q2 Earnings

UBS has raised its outlook on European equities ahead of the second-quarter earnings season, highlighting potential upside in select company results despite muted regional forecasts. The banks European Equity Strategy...

Hungary’s Opposition Leader Unveils "New Deal" to Boost Economy Ahead of 2025 Election

Hungarys opposition leader Peter Magyar announced a bold economic plan, the Hungarian New Deal, aiming to revive the countrys inflation-struck economy ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections. Speaking at a Tisza party...

EU, Mexico Condemn Trump’s 30% Tariff Threat as Global Trade Tensions Rise

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 30% tariff on goods imported from the European Union and Mexico, effective August 1, sparking immediate backlash from global leaders and economists. EU Council President Antonio...

Trump Threatens 30% Tariffs on EU and Mexico, Sparking Global Trade Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited trade tensions by threatening to impose a 30% tariff on imports from the European Union and Mexico starting August 1. The move, announced via letters to EU Commission President...

EU Warns of Retaliation if Trump Imposes 30% Tariffs on European Goods

The European Union has issued a stern warning to the U.S., stating it is prepared to retaliate if President Donald Trump proceeds with his plan to impose 30% tariffs on European imports starting August 1. The surprise move...

Politics

Gaza Ceasefire Talks Stalled as Aid Convoy Shooting Sparks Outrage

Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Doha have stalled amid disputes over Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza. The U.S.-backed proposal, calling for a 60-day truce, faces roadblocks as both sides clash over...

Trump Defends AG Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Fallout

U.S. President Donald Trump has come to the defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi, addressing backlash from conservative circles over the Justice Departments handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. In a nearly 400-word Truth...

Australia Asserts Sovereignty Amid U.S. Pressure on Taiwan Conflict Role

Australia will not pre-commit troops to any potential conflict involving China and Taiwan, said Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, responding to reports that the U.S. has pushed allies to clarify their stance in the...

Gaza Ceasefire Talks Stall Amid Continued Violence and Aid Crisis

Efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza are faltering, with Israeli and Palestinian sources citing deep divisions over Israeli troop withdrawals. The U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire is under discussion in Doha,...

Russia Launches Massive Drone and Missile Attack on Western Ukraine

Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Ukraine early Saturday, deploying 597 drones and 26 missiles in its fourth major attack this month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the strikes killed at least...

Science

FDA Lifts REMS Requirement for CAR-T Cell Cancer Therapies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) requirement for all currently approved CAR-T cell therapies, a move expected to improve patient access to these...

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Surges on U.S. Patent Win for Rare Disorder Drug

Shares of Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:NEU) jumped over 10% on Thursday after the company announced a key development in its rare disease pipeline. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has approved Neurens patent...

CDC Vaccine Review Sparks Controversy Over Thimerosal Study Citation

A presentation on thimerosal, a mercury-based vaccine preservative, set to be delivered to the CDCs advisory committee has come under scrutiny for referencing a non-existent study. The report, Thimerosal as a Vaccine...

SpaceX Starship Explodes in Texas During Test, Citing Nitrogen Tank Failure

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NASA Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Recover After Boeing Starliner Delay

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are steadily recovering after spending nine unexpected months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to issues with Boeings Starliner capsule. Initially intended...

Technology

J.P. Morgan: Generative AI Must Boost IT Workloads by 55% to Offset Cost Deflation

Generative AI is reshaping IT services, but it must drive over 55% more workload to offset significant cost deflation, according to a recent J.P. Morgan report. The brokerage estimates that large language models (LLMs) can...

SpaceX Invests $2B in xAI, Boosting Elon Musk’s AI Ambitions

Elon Musks artificial intelligence startup xAI has secured a $2 billion investment from SpaceX as part of a $5 billion equity round, according to The Wall Street Journal. The funding deepens the integration between Musks...

Google Acquires AI Coding Tech from Windsurf in $2.4 Billion Deal

Google has reportedly agreed to a $2.4 billion deal to license Windsurfs artificial intelligence-assisted coding technology, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter. The move marks a...

Google Hires Windsurf AI Talent After OpenAI Acquisition Talks Falter

Google has hired key personnel from AI code-generation startup Windsurf, following failed acquisition talks between Windsurf and rival OpenAI. According to a Google spokesperson, Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder...

UN Urges Global Action to Combat Deepfakes and Misinformation Risks

The United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has called for urgent global action to fight deepfakes and misinformation, citing growing threats of election interference and financial fraud. In a report...