Nick Kapur
@nickkapur.bsky.social
Historian of Japan and East Asia. I only post extremely interesting things.
Author of "Japan at the Crossroads," out now from Harvard University Press.
https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674984424
Author of "Japan at the Crossroads," out now from Harvard University Press.
https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674984424
Pinned
Nick Kapur
@nickkapur.bsky.social
· Oct 20
Thrilled to announce the publication of my article "The Invention of the Kamikaze: Dissent and Resistance in the Japanese Military" in the October issue of the Journal of Military History!
Reposted by Nick Kapur
In one of my classes, students create a work of historical interpretation based on primary sources - can be anything: slide deck, video, comic, artwork, diorama, or pretty much anything else you can think of, or else they can do a traditional 5-page essay.
Which do you think is most popular?
1/3
Which do you think is most popular?
1/3
November 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
In one of my classes, students create a work of historical interpretation based on primary sources - can be anything: slide deck, video, comic, artwork, diorama, or pretty much anything else you can think of, or else they can do a traditional 5-page essay.
Which do you think is most popular?
1/3
Which do you think is most popular?
1/3
...post-AI devolution, suddenly almost every student is proposing to write a 5-page essay.
As if it has suddenly become the easiest thing to do in the world. 🤔
3/3
As if it has suddenly become the easiest thing to do in the world. 🤔
3/3
November 21, 2025 at 10:19 PM
...post-AI devolution, suddenly almost every student is proposing to write a 5-page essay.
As if it has suddenly become the easiest thing to do in the world. 🤔
3/3
As if it has suddenly become the easiest thing to do in the world. 🤔
3/3
In all previous years (last taught it two years ago), almost zero students chose the 5-page essay, because writing an essay that long is hard!
The vast, overwhelming majority chose to create PowerPoint slide decks.
However this year...
2/3
The vast, overwhelming majority chose to create PowerPoint slide decks.
However this year...
2/3
November 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
In all previous years (last taught it two years ago), almost zero students chose the 5-page essay, because writing an essay that long is hard!
The vast, overwhelming majority chose to create PowerPoint slide decks.
However this year...
2/3
The vast, overwhelming majority chose to create PowerPoint slide decks.
However this year...
2/3
In one of my classes, students create a work of historical interpretation based on primary sources - can be anything: slide deck, video, comic, artwork, diorama, or pretty much anything else you can think of, or else they can do a traditional 5-page essay.
Which do you think is most popular?
1/3
Which do you think is most popular?
1/3
November 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
In one of my classes, students create a work of historical interpretation based on primary sources - can be anything: slide deck, video, comic, artwork, diorama, or pretty much anything else you can think of, or else they can do a traditional 5-page essay.
Which do you think is most popular?
1/3
Which do you think is most popular?
1/3
Reposted by Nick Kapur
Absolutely brutal report just out from National Association of Realtors on the utterly broken US housing market.
First-time homebuyers fell to a historic low of just 21% of all homebuyers, and their median age was an all-time high of 40 years old.
The American Dream is dead.
First-time homebuyers fell to a historic low of just 21% of all homebuyers, and their median age was an all-time high of 40 years old.
The American Dream is dead.
November 20, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Absolutely brutal report just out from National Association of Realtors on the utterly broken US housing market.
First-time homebuyers fell to a historic low of just 21% of all homebuyers, and their median age was an all-time high of 40 years old.
The American Dream is dead.
First-time homebuyers fell to a historic low of just 21% of all homebuyers, and their median age was an all-time high of 40 years old.
The American Dream is dead.
Lots of drama during Day 4 of the Sengoku Japan simulation!
Most notably, the Ryūzōji clan rose up in rebellion against their erstwhile Shimazu masters at the behest of the Imagawa, shattering the previously united southern alliance
#SengokuSim
Most notably, the Ryūzōji clan rose up in rebellion against their erstwhile Shimazu masters at the behest of the Imagawa, shattering the previously united southern alliance
#SengokuSim
November 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Lots of drama during Day 4 of the Sengoku Japan simulation!
Most notably, the Ryūzōji clan rose up in rebellion against their erstwhile Shimazu masters at the behest of the Imagawa, shattering the previously united southern alliance
#SengokuSim
Most notably, the Ryūzōji clan rose up in rebellion against their erstwhile Shimazu masters at the behest of the Imagawa, shattering the previously united southern alliance
#SengokuSim
Even amongst the few first-time homebuyers that still exist, most of them are rich, with a majority using personal cash or assets for their down payment for the first time, compared to past years when most borrowed the down payment from friends or relatives.
November 20, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Even amongst the few first-time homebuyers that still exist, most of them are rich, with a majority using personal cash or assets for their down payment for the first time, compared to past years when most borrowed the down payment from friends or relatives.
79% of all homebuyers are repeat homebuyers, and the median age of all homebuyers reached an all-time high of 59 years old.
This is the world that Boomers wanted.
This is the world that Boomers wanted.
November 20, 2025 at 12:04 AM
79% of all homebuyers are repeat homebuyers, and the median age of all homebuyers reached an all-time high of 59 years old.
This is the world that Boomers wanted.
This is the world that Boomers wanted.
Absolutely brutal report just out from National Association of Realtors on the utterly broken US housing market.
First-time homebuyers fell to a historic low of just 21% of all homebuyers, and their median age was an all-time high of 40 years old.
The American Dream is dead.
First-time homebuyers fell to a historic low of just 21% of all homebuyers, and their median age was an all-time high of 40 years old.
The American Dream is dead.
November 20, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Absolutely brutal report just out from National Association of Realtors on the utterly broken US housing market.
First-time homebuyers fell to a historic low of just 21% of all homebuyers, and their median age was an all-time high of 40 years old.
The American Dream is dead.
First-time homebuyers fell to a historic low of just 21% of all homebuyers, and their median age was an all-time high of 40 years old.
The American Dream is dead.
Day 3 is in the books!
The Imagawa and Shimazu clans seem to be doing well so far...
Here is a map as of July 1570:
#SengokuSim
The Imagawa and Shimazu clans seem to be doing well so far...
Here is a map as of July 1570:
#SengokuSim
November 18, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Day 3 is in the books!
The Imagawa and Shimazu clans seem to be doing well so far...
Here is a map as of July 1570:
#SengokuSim
The Imagawa and Shimazu clans seem to be doing well so far...
Here is a map as of July 1570:
#SengokuSim
A number of websites with which I am affiliated keep constantly crashing because ever more malignant AI companies keep scraping them to train their LLMs and not only ignore the robots.txt file, but come up with ever more clever ways to circumvent blocks by disguising their bots as ordinary users.
November 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
A number of websites with which I am affiliated keep constantly crashing because ever more malignant AI companies keep scraping them to train their LLMs and not only ignore the robots.txt file, but come up with ever more clever ways to circumvent blocks by disguising their bots as ordinary users.
November 14, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Yes! It's so different every time.
Since the material conditions are always more or less the same, it all depends on how the students interact with each other.
As in real history, the human element really matters.
Since the material conditions are always more or less the same, it all depends on how the students interact with each other.
As in real history, the human element really matters.
November 14, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Yes! It's so different every time.
Since the material conditions are always more or less the same, it all depends on how the students interact with each other.
As in real history, the human element really matters.
Since the material conditions are always more or less the same, it all depends on how the students interact with each other.
As in real history, the human element really matters.
Here is the map of Japan after Day 1 of the second simulation, showing an alternate universe Japan as of April 1564:
#SengokuSim
#SengokuSim
November 13, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Here is the map of Japan after Day 1 of the second simulation, showing an alternate universe Japan as of April 1564:
#SengokuSim
#SengokuSim
Reposted by Nick Kapur
probably something an innocent man would do
November 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM
probably something an innocent man would do
It's in theatres?
We're going to see the musical version in Philly in a few weeks!
We're going to see the musical version in Philly in a few weeks!
November 11, 2025 at 10:42 PM
It's in theatres?
We're going to see the musical version in Philly in a few weeks!
We're going to see the musical version in Philly in a few weeks!
The first Sengoku Japan simulation of the semester has now concluded!
The Mōri clan emerged victorious, with the Imagawa clinging on to a few scattered provinces and certain to submit if the simulation had continued.
Here is a map of Japan as of April 1588:
#SengokuSim
The Mōri clan emerged victorious, with the Imagawa clinging on to a few scattered provinces and certain to submit if the simulation had continued.
Here is a map of Japan as of April 1588:
#SengokuSim
November 11, 2025 at 10:34 PM
The first Sengoku Japan simulation of the semester has now concluded!
The Mōri clan emerged victorious, with the Imagawa clinging on to a few scattered provinces and certain to submit if the simulation had continued.
Here is a map of Japan as of April 1588:
#SengokuSim
The Mōri clan emerged victorious, with the Imagawa clinging on to a few scattered provinces and certain to submit if the simulation had continued.
Here is a map of Japan as of April 1588:
#SengokuSim
Getting set to run another edition of the Sengoku Japan simulation in my other class.
Here is the starting map of the samurai clans selected by the students, as of April 1560:
#SengokuSim
Here is the starting map of the samurai clans selected by the students, as of April 1560:
#SengokuSim
November 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Getting set to run another edition of the Sengoku Japan simulation in my other class.
Here is the starting map of the samurai clans selected by the students, as of April 1560:
#SengokuSim
Here is the starting map of the samurai clans selected by the students, as of April 1560:
#SengokuSim
Reposted by Nick Kapur
You know how the existence of cars and power tools makes it necessary to have “exercise” and “manual crafts” as a deliberately chosen part of a balanced life?
We’re probably going to need something like that cognitively, for adults.
We’re probably going to need something like that cognitively, for adults.
November 6, 2025 at 4:18 AM
You know how the existence of cars and power tools makes it necessary to have “exercise” and “manual crafts” as a deliberately chosen part of a balanced life?
We’re probably going to need something like that cognitively, for adults.
We’re probably going to need something like that cognitively, for adults.
Reposted by Nick Kapur
Japan's "Mundane Halloween" costume contest is back!
Each year website DailyPortalZ holds a contest where people dress up as something super duper ordinary.
Here's a thread of some of my favorites from the 2025 contest!
#MundaneHalloween
Each year website DailyPortalZ holds a contest where people dress up as something super duper ordinary.
Here's a thread of some of my favorites from the 2025 contest!
#MundaneHalloween
November 2, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Japan's "Mundane Halloween" costume contest is back!
Each year website DailyPortalZ holds a contest where people dress up as something super duper ordinary.
Here's a thread of some of my favorites from the 2025 contest!
#MundaneHalloween
Each year website DailyPortalZ holds a contest where people dress up as something super duper ordinary.
Here's a thread of some of my favorites from the 2025 contest!
#MundaneHalloween
We're through Day 6 of the Sengoku Japan simulation. Only one more day to go!
Here is an updated map of Japan as of May 1585:
#SengokuSim
Here is an updated map of Japan as of May 1585:
#SengokuSim
November 6, 2025 at 11:18 PM
We're through Day 6 of the Sengoku Japan simulation. Only one more day to go!
Here is an updated map of Japan as of May 1585:
#SengokuSim
Here is an updated map of Japan as of May 1585:
#SengokuSim
Reposted by Nick Kapur
Starts in one hour!!
Happening in one week!
Alicia Volk (University of Maryland) discusses her new work, "In the Shadow of Empire: Art in Occupied Japan," as part of the MJHA's New Books on Japan series.
Information and Registration:
mjha.org/event-6314068
Alicia Volk (University of Maryland) discusses her new work, "In the Shadow of Empire: Art in Occupied Japan," as part of the MJHA's New Books on Japan series.
Information and Registration:
mjha.org/event-6314068
Modern Japan History Association - New Books on Japan: "In the Shadow of Empire: Art in Occupied Japan"
mjha.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Starts in one hour!!
We are now through Day 5 of the Sengoku Japan simulation.
Here is a map of Japan as of March 1581:
#SengokuSim
Here is a map of Japan as of March 1581:
#SengokuSim
November 4, 2025 at 11:40 PM
We are now through Day 5 of the Sengoku Japan simulation.
Here is a map of Japan as of March 1581:
#SengokuSim
Here is a map of Japan as of March 1581:
#SengokuSim
"You need to be bored. You *will* have less meaning and you *will* be more depressed, if you never are bored. The evidence couldn't be clearer."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQK...
You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.
YouTube video by Harvard Business Review
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
"You need to be bored. You *will* have less meaning and you *will* be more depressed, if you never are bored. The evidence couldn't be clearer."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQK...