Research Interests
History of Japanese politics, International studies in East Asia, International politics
Academic Degrees
- Ph.D, University of Tokyo, 2009
Short Bio
I returned to Waseda University in 2015, marking my 15th year back since serving as an assistant at the Waseda University Asia Pacific Research Center for two years in 1998. Eleven more years have passed since then.
I am now exploring the relationship between Japan and Asia, considering both historical and theoretical perspectives. Since the 2023 academic year, I have served as the principal investigator for the project “Exploring International Reconciliation Studies Based on Universal Values and Collective Memory,” supported by the Ministry of Education (MEXT)’s International Leading Research Program, one of the largest-scale grants under the KAKENHI (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research).
Waseda University’s nearly 150-year history can be seen as a commitment to contributing to Asia’s modernization and nurturing talent. As a result, it possesses a rich academic and intellectual network and has cultivated trust among Asia’s affluent class. Precisely for this reason, I believe the university’s identity should be defined by its capacity for deep dialogue at the level of the “heart” – something bureaucrats and politicians cannot achieve. Only then can it gain attention in the English-speaking world and become a truly world-class university in English-speaking universities, which are incapable of being replicated. The International Leading Research Project I lead, operating at a scale equivalent to four foundational (S) projects, aims to discuss overcoming “historical issues” together and build an intellectual infrastructure connecting national sentiment and memory—a platform for dialogue that frames emotions and memories within a framework of cool-headed discussion.
In my classes, I teach Japanese political history. I approach history on the premise that what matters most are the internalized memories and values of contemporary people seeking to understand the past, and that the corresponding facts are selected to construct the narrative of history. Furthermore, in my Global History classes and seminars, I theoretically focus on the historicity of the collective entity known as the nation and the concept of human rights as a value created by modernity.
For further details, please refer to the Reconciliation Studies Series (6 volumes: Akashi Shoten, 2022-2023) and Postwar Japan’s Reparations Issues and East Asian Regional Reorganization: The Origins of Claims and Historical Perception Problems (Jigakusha, 2013).
In 2022, I received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (Science and Technology Award, Research Category) for the project “Establishing Reconciliation Studies as a New Field Integrating History and Conflict Resolution Studies,” which preceded the International Leadership Project.
I extend my deepest gratitude to all the staff at Waseda University who supported me administratively.
