Dr. Michael Wachutka's area of expertise is the intellectual and religious history of Japan, with special focus on, among others:

• Interrelationship between everyday religion ("folk beliefs"), variously defined "spiritual culture", and national identity throughout history
• Evolution, network of relations, personalities, and self-identity of Kokugaku ("National Learning"), especially during the Meiji-period
• Cultural history of dealing with mythical creatures and fantastic phenomena ("Yōkai")
• Mythology and canonization of classical Shintō scriptures
• History and ideas of the Tennō system