An expert lecturer on Japan for the National Geographic Society, Ms. Muller will deliver a multi-media presentation on her documentary series and book, "Japanland: A Year in Search of Wa."  

For 12 months she traveled extensively in Japan, living among its people and exploring Japan’s ancient cultural heritage and its modern ways.  Ms. Muller carried everything she needed on her back. She relied on the people, learned from them, shared their meals, living conditions, and livelihoods. She was welcomed into the homes of rural fishermen, potters, and farmers living in remote villages carved out of steep mountain slopes.   She gained access to many unique and sometimes obscure subcultures of Japan, including sumo wrestlers, sword makers, geisha, and Buddhist monks, and the workaholic, career-track salary-man.

During her presentation, she uses dramatic film clips, slides, and poignant and often hilarious stories to describe some of the fundamental differences between Japanese and western cultures, and the great diversity and proud humanity of a nation rooted in the past but looking toward the future.

Ms. Muller has lectured extensively for National Geographic, the Smithsonian, and top universities both in the United States and internationally. She has authored three books (translated into eight languages) and produced major documentary series for National Geographic and PBS. 

Her appearance at WVU at Parkersburg is co-sponsored by the college's Social Justice Committee and the Internationalization Committee. It is made possible through grant assistance from  the West Virginia Humanities Council, the WV Higher Education Policy Commission, WV Council for Community and Technical College Education and the Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts.