This research project investigated the experiences of marginalised communities in East Asian port cities, challenging traditional views of cultural heritage as static inheritances curated solely by state apparatuses. By focusing on port cities such as Tokyo-Yokohama, Nagasaki, and Hirado, the study explored how minority groups—defined by ethnicity, religion, or citizenship—create, safeguard, and reinterpret their spaces, rituals, and memories. A core conceptual framework developed during this project is "Participatory Diversity," which advocates for a form of pluralism rooted in daily life engagement rather than merely intellectual dialogue.

The research methodology combined academic debate with extensive site-based inquiry, examining the tensions between authorised narratives and vernacular memory in maritime networks. Key findings highlight how unfamiliar neighbours acted as critical cultural brokers, with foreign temples doubling as diplomatic nodes and minority religious sites negotiating visibility under varying regimes. Furthermore, the project successfully convened a major international conference and fieldwork workshop in January 2026, bringing together scholars, heritage practitioners, and community leaders to rethink the future landscape of East Asian maritime heritage.

Significant academic outputs include monographs and edited volumes, such as Always in the Other Land: Minority Religions in East Asia, which further disseminate the project's findings on minority religions and transregional networks. Ultimately, the project demonstrates how localised interpretations of heritage can sustain social pluralism and reconnect port cities across the maritime world.