Nelly Naumann (1922-2000) studed japonología, sinology, anthropology and philosophy at the University of Vienna.
After his doctorate in 1946 he moved to Shanghai where he lived until 1954.
During this period the work translated into German Hisayoshi Takeda, Elfolclore the Japanese people.
Back in Germany, taught Japanese folklore and ethnology at the universities of Bochum and Münster.
He retired from teaching in 1986 japonología being professor at the University of Freiburg Albert-Ludwig.
His research focused primarily on issues of religion, mythology and ethnology.
In 1995 her Yama no Kami: Japanese divinity of the mountain was awarded the Unesco unpremio.