Rhiannon Griffiths

Profile

Biography

Rhiannon Griffiths

• BA (Hons) Japanese and History, SOAS
• LLM International Human Rights Law and Practice, University of York
• MA Social Research, University of York

Associate Lecturer

I am currently an Associate Lecturer at York Law School and I have taught on various undergraduate and postgraduate modules, with topics ranging from violations of international human rights law to academic writing skills.

Before returning to higher education, I was a lecturer in English and drama in Kagoshima, Japan, and later the Studio Project Manager for a foreign language media company. I also spent several years as a lead activist with Amnesty International UK as the Japan Country Coordinator and as Research Officer for the Anti-Death Penalty Project.

Departmental roles

 Admissions Team Member (Home)

Teaching

Other teaching

It's a privilege to work with students at York Law School and I am passionate about encouraging debate, broadening perspectives, and finding the joy in learning. I currently teach on Legal Concepts, Introduction to Law and Society, Foundations in Law, and I provide ad hoc lectures to other modules.

Research

Overview

I am currently researching the development of constitutional theory in pre-war Japan, with a particular interest in the late-1800s. The project considers how ancient and contemporary Japanese traditions informed constitutionalism and the ways in which Western theories were transformed, subverted, and adopted by Japanese intellectuals.

My PhD, titled 'Historical Harm, Modern Mending: conceptualising transitional justice as social control in post-war Japan', focused on the legacy and memory of the Asia-Pacific War through three case studies: the Tokyo Trial, Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, and the Women's Active Museum.

Publications

Selected publications

• '‘We Leave the Future to You’: Memory, masculinity and victimhood in Godzilla Minus One' (2025) Journal of Media and Rights