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Steven was born in Ghent, Belgium. He studied esoteric Buddhism at Ghent University and conducted research on medieval Japanese esoteric Buddhist rituals and belief systems at Kyoto University. He is particularly interested in beliefs that involve the serpent-dragon in esoteric Buddhist and Shinto contexts. His past investigations brought to light the important role of the multifaceted dragon in esoteric Buddhism and in a number of major medieval Shinto lineages. In his current research, he plans to expand this view and further look into the nature of Kami-Buddha combinations to shed new light on the development of premodern Japanese religions. One part of his research is dedicated to the relationship between esoteric Buddhist-Shinto and classical martial arts, a field in which, interestingly, the dragon-serpent of old seems to have crept its way.