Josef Kreiner was the son of Anton and Anna Kreiner. Kreiner studied the ethnology of Japan, its people and its prehistory at the University of Vienna and University of Tokyo. He was promoted in 1964 to Dr Phil at the University of Vienna. After two years, as a lecturer at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Kreiner habilitated in Japanology in Vienna, under Alexander Slawik. From 1969 - 1971 Kreiner spent his time at the University of Bonn as a lecturer[2] before taking the venia legendi at Bonn in 1970. He was sub subsequently promoted to Professor of Japanese Studies in Vienna, and between 1971 and 1977 Kreiner was Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies.[2] From 1975 to 1979, Kreiner was President of the European Association for Japanese Studies.[2] From 1977 to 2008 Kreiner was Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Bonn.[2]
The following are the books authored, co-authored, or edited by Kreiner.[7]
Kreiner, Josef; Ölschleger, Hans-Dieter; Möhwald, Ulrich (2004). Modern Japanese society, Series: Handbuch der Orientalistik., 5, Japan ;, 9. Leiden: Brill. ISBN9789004105164.
Kreiner, Josef (1996). The impact of traditional thought on present-day Japan., Series: Monographien aus dem Deutschen Institut für Japanstudien der Philipp-Franz-von-Siebold-Stiftung, 11. München: Iudicium. ISBN9783891294918.
Kreiner, Josef (1995). Japan in global context : papers presented on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the German Institute for Japanese Studies, Tōkyō., Series:Deutsches Institut für Japanstudien <Tōkyō>., Monographien aus dem Deutschen Institut für Japanstudien der Philipp-Franz-von-Siebold-Stiftung. München: Iudicium-Verl. ISBN9783891294901.
Kreiner, Josef (1993). European studies on Ainu language and culture. Munchen: Iudicium. ISBN9783891294864.
Kreiner, Josef; Ölschleger, Hans-Dieter (2008). Theories and methods in Japanese studies: current state and future developments : papers in honor of Josef Kreiner. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Unipress:Bonn University Press. ISBN978-3899713558.
Kreiner, Josef (2006). Japaneseness versus Ryūkyūanism papers read at the Fourth International Conference on Okinawan Studies, Bonn Venue, March 2002. Bonn: Bonn Bier. ISBN9783936366198.
Kreiner, Josef (2016). Japanese collections in European museums, With special reference to Buddhist art. Bonn Bier'sche Verlagsanstalt. ISBN9783936366556.
Kreiner, Josef; zaidan, Toyota (2005). Irene, Tomoe; Steineck, Maria; Kreiner, Josef; Steineck, Raji C. (eds.). Reports from the Toyota Foundation symposium, Königswinter 2003 general prospects. Bonn: Bier’sche Verlagsanstalt. ISBN9783936366068.
Kreiner, Josef (1956). Japan und die Mittelmächte im Ersten Weltkrieg und in den zwanziger Jahren., Series:Studium Universale, Bd. 8. Bonn: Bouvier. ISBN9783416040082.
^ abcdefg"Josef Kreiner". Academia Europaea. London: Academy of Europe. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
^Ölschleger, Hans Dieter, ed. (February 2006). Theories and Methods in Japanese Studies: Current State and Future Developments - Papers in Honor of Josef Kreiner. Göttingen: V&R unipress GmbH. hdl:20.500.11811/570. ISBN978-3-89971-355-8.