Jiro Kawakita
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BornMay 11, 1920
DiedJuly 8, 2009 (aged 89)
OccupationsGeographer
Cultural anthropologist
Cultural anthropologist
KnownforKJ Method, 1985 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient
Jiro Kawakita | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 11, 1920 |
| Died | July 8, 2009 (aged 89) |
| Occupations | Geographer Cultural anthropologist |
| Known for | KJ Method, 1985 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient |
Jiro Kawakita (川喜田 二郎, Kawakita Jirō) was an ethnographer, a pioneer in participation of remote Nepalese villagers in researching their problems, resulting in practical benefits of potable water supplies and rapid rope-way transport across mountain gorges.[1] He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1984.[1]
He is reported as the author of KJ method for organizing notes,[2] also termed affinity walls in UX Research. He viewed the method as an alternative to Western quantitative methods in ethnography.
Kawakita established the non-profit organisation Institute for Himalayan Conservation Japan.[3]
