Dr. Hiromu Nagahara

Biography

Hiromu Nagahara is an Associate Professor of History at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), focusing on modern Japan, particularly in the realms of politics, art, and culture during the nineteenth century. He authored 'Tokyo Boogie-Woogie: Japan's Pop Era Discontents' (Harvard University Press, 2017), which discusses public controversies surrounding popular songs from Japan's music industry in the late 1920s and how they relate to Japan's transition into a mass-consumer, middle-class society. His ongoing book project, 'Emperor's English: Language and Identity in Imperial Japan,' explores the cultural history of modern Japanese diplomacy and emphasizes the role of familiarity with English language and Anglophone culture in shaping Japan’s imperial ambitions. Nagahara's teaching interests span from early Japanese history to the modern era, including courses such as 'Inventing Samurai' and 'Modern Japan: 1600 to Present.' He co-teaches a global history course titled 'World History Fault Lines 1800.' Additionally, he organizes tours for students and MIT community members to explore the Japanese collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, which features the largest collection of Japanese art outside Japan.

Research Interests

Experience