永原宣 Hiromu Nagahara

Really, really excited for this book!!

I just received author copies of my book on Chongryon (Chosen Soren). KumHee and I went through many emotional ups and downs during our research. I cannot describe what the weight of a physical copy means to me (FYI: It's physically heavier than I expected). The official release date is 31 March.

ZOOM ONLY tomorrow, Monday, 2/23, 12-1pm ET: Due to inclement weather, Sakura Christmas' @prof-christmas.bsky.social seminar, "Behind the Screen: Mining Pasts of the Nintendo Gameboy," will be presented by zoom only. Please see the registration link here: us-japan.wcfia.harvard.edu/event/zoom-o...

Toward a Digital Future in East Asian Studies: Case Studies in Dissimilarity and Possibility Abstract. Despite growing interest in the role of digital humanities (DH) in and beyond East Asian/Asian studies, the breadth of possibilities for DH within area studies is still unclear for many rese...

I am pleased to share that our long-awaited forum in the Journal of Asian Studies, "Digital Humanities in/and Asian Studies," is out! My article examines some case studies of the possibilities DH can offer East Asian Studies. read.dukeupress.edu/journal-of-a...

Spending most of this morning shoveling around the house JUST to prepare for a blizzard on Monday feels truly sisyphean.

Cover photo of the catalog for the Samurai exhibit currently on view at the British Museum.

Extremely excited to receive this advance copy of the catalog for the Samurai exhibit at the British Museum. Many thanks to @olegb.bsky.social and Rosina Buckland for allowing me to go along for the ride with them on this adventure!

This was so good

「中道」訴え、逆に際立った左派色　有権者の意識から見る大敗と希望：朝日新聞 ■政治学者・秦正樹さん寄稿　今回の突然の衆院解散・選挙は、高市早苗首相のもくろみ通り、自民党が316議席という歴史的大勝を果たした一方、最大野党である中道改革連合は、わずか49議席という壊滅的な惨敗と…

もう一本、記事のシェア。

こちらは政治学者の秦正樹先生。中道がなぜダメだったのかについて、かなり説得力のある分析だと思う。

それにしても、有権者がもつ各政党のイデオロギーイメージ。実際の政党の動向というより、雰囲気で決まっているような...

18日の11時まで全文読めるリンク。

digital.asahi.com/articles/ASV...

I know a lot of camps are filling up. We are still looking for kids. Check us out.

I'm no theologian but taunting hungry imprisoned children with food sure sounds like one of those things that substantially increases a person's likelihood of eternal damnation.

I'd like at add a few things to this. (1) humanists have not been able to convince any political party that curiosity-driven humanities research is a public good that should be funded using tax dollars. Republicans don't believe this, but neither do Democrats.

Poster and abstract for Atsuko Shigesawa (Kobe City University of Foreign Studies) presentation in the MIT History Asia in Dialogue seminar series on 2/19/2026 at 5pm in E51-285: "Reframing the Japanese Mind on the Atomic Bomb: The US Strategic Bombing Survey and its Counterfactual Conclusion." Abstract: "In July 1946, the US Strategic Bombing Survey—a group of analysts led by a civilian board of directors appointed by the Secretary of War—concluded that: “…Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated” (hereinafter, “counterfactual conclusion”). Since then, it has been cited by critics of the US administration’s decision to use the new weapon. In 1995, two historians challenged this conclusion by scrutinizing evidence: interrogations of Japanese leaders. Examining the counterfactual narrative only within the framework of the interrogations, however, misses the significance of the Survey’s studies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Five of its 15 study divisions devoted substantial time and resources to studying the effects of the atomic bomb. How do the results of these studies intertwine with the conclusion? Did they contribute in any way to its formation? This presentation scrutinizes the transition of the Morale Division's manuscripts and final report in an attempt to answer these questions."

***Next Week at MIT!***
Atsuko Shigesawa (Kobe City University of Foreign Studies) in the MIT History Asia in Dialogue seminar series on 2/19/2026 at 5pm in E51-285: "Reframing the Japanese Mind on the Atomic Bomb: The US Strategic Bombing Survey and its Counterfactual Conclusion."

very excited to share the cover for our forthcoming book by susan burns on the history of medical modernization and public health in tokyo! featuring a bunch of color images and cool maps!

I’m still in the process of getting deeper into the postwar era. Will pass along if I see anything potentially interesting!

E.G. AK talks about bankrolling her father (with her husband's money) and encountering "piles of money" at the Hatoyama residence in 『父吉田茂』.

That looks like a fascinating read! I suspect that you may have already looked at these but I'm finding the memories/contemporary writings by those who surrounded Yoshida Shigeru (e.g. his children like Aso Kazuko and Yoshida Ken'ichi) to be also fascinating in this regard.

Please join in person at MIT on Friday, February 27 for a fantastic lineup of speakers—including Prakash Kumar, Sigrid Schmalzer, Micah Muscolino, Benjamin Siegel, and Heather Roller—exploring conservation, ecology, and food production in China&India. Hope to see you there!

Cover of "Nihon ni okeru 'kindai seitō' no tanjō: Senzen-ki Shimane-ken ni okeru Kenseikai / Minseitō seiryoku no tenkai" by Sugitani Naoya.

Now #reading: 杉谷直哉『日本における「近代政党」の誕生：戦前期島根県における憲政会・民政党勢力の展開』（法律文化社、2025年）
#history #skystorians #AcademicSky #politicalhistory #politicalscience #Japan #歴史 #歴史学 #政治史 #政治学 #日本

Bluesky’s own @jmelendezbadillo.bsky.social!

The media desperately wanted to give the right a cultural moment and the problem is that they have no culture.

Looking at the list of CRA/CDP incumbents projected to lose their single member districts on Asahi, like Ozawa, Kaieda, and Eda…a veritable list of “oh they were still around???”

I cannot make it to this event because of my teaching responsibilities, but it is on Friday and you really shouldn’t miss it!

Lolol good job Spurs!

Guardian website with review of Samurai exhibition and woodblock print

Come for the history, stay for the sexy, demonic glory.
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Looking for a postdoc opportunity outside the UK/US? I'm happy to support up to two JSPS postdoc applicants for the coming round for two-year posts starting from Sep./Oct. 2026 onwards at UTokyo. The application to be submitted before the end of March. 1/n

As Mark Winchester @archerknewsmit.bsky.social has noted, “foreigner problem” and “foreigner policy” are terms that have come into currency only in the past year

Nakano Kōichi ran a search on Asahi Shimbun database and saw such terms had no or only single digit hits until 2024, but 3 digits in 2025

Snow-capped Mt Fuji seen from a hotel room in downtown Tokyo on a sunny day.

Successfully completed the inaugural MIT IAP in Ancient and Modern Japan study trip! Someone showed up today to greet us on our way out…

戦後80年、その先へ　戦争の記憶を後世に伝える「戦争の記憶　横浜と軍隊の120年」　展覧会開催のお知らせ【横浜都市発展記念館】 公益財団法人横浜市ふるさと歴史財団のプレスリリース（2025年12月26日 14時00分）戦後80年、その先へ　戦争の記憶を後世に伝える「戦争の記憶　横浜と軍隊の120年」　展覧会開催のお知らせ【横浜都市発展記念館】

Yesterday my students and I went on a historical exploration of Yokohama where we visited an absolute blockbuster exhibit on the 120-year history of Yokohama’a relationship with Japanese and foreign military forces. It’s well worth a visit!!

prtimes.jp/main/html/rd...

“European” 欧風 style curry rice with “Viennese” coffee served at an NDL cafe.

Before taking students on an afternoon Ueno/Yanaka walk today, I had to stop by the National Diet Library this morning to check some sources for page-proofing, and so…