Professor Doak specializes in the study of nationalism and democratic thought and culture in modern Japan, as well as in the literary, cultural and philosophical expressions
of public thought and values. He sits on the executive board of the Society for Japanese Studies and on the Advisory Board of the Journal of Japanese Studies. His recent writings in Japanese have been prominently published in major Japanese newspapers and journals and cited by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in his book Utsukushii Kuni E (2006). Professor Doak's current research focusses on issues related to politics and religion (especially Catholicism) in modern Japan.