Oleg Benesch
@olegb.bsky.social
Historian of East Asia at the University of York in the UK. Recently working on samurai, castles, masculinity, drugs, sport, emotions, comics, medievalism, and public history. Needs fewer hobbies.
www.olegbenesch.com
www.olegbenesch.com
Pinned
Oleg Benesch
@olegb.bsky.social
· Dec 7
Samurai
This major exhibition reveals the real story of the samurai, from medieval battlefields to modern blockbusters.
www.britishmuseum.org
From 3 February 2026, the special exhibition "Samurai" will be at the British Museum. I've had a lot of fun working on this together with the brilliant Rosina Buckland. If you happen to be in London, and feel that you need more samurai in your life, do drop by!
www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
If you want to hear more from our January Third Thursday Lecture speaker Professor @olegb.bsky.social, he's a guest on the latest episode of The East Angle podcast, run by Dr Ra Mason and Dr Sherzod Muminov from @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social @politicsuea.bsky.social! youtu.be/29YY-7mQvls?...
Samurai, Castles, and the Making of Modern Japan - A Conversation with Professor Oleg Benesch
YouTube video by The East Angle
youtu.be
January 26, 2026 at 4:59 PM
If you want to hear more from our January Third Thursday Lecture speaker Professor @olegb.bsky.social, he's a guest on the latest episode of The East Angle podcast, run by Dr Ra Mason and Dr Sherzod Muminov from @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social @politicsuea.bsky.social! youtu.be/29YY-7mQvls?...
Who wore it better? The 47 Ronin or the HMS London?
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/i...
publicdomainreview.org/collection/d...
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/i...
publicdomainreview.org/collection/d...
January 24, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Who wore it better? The 47 Ronin or the HMS London?
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/i...
publicdomainreview.org/collection/d...
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/i...
publicdomainreview.org/collection/d...
I was very fortunate to have the chance to speak at @sainsbury-institute.org in Norwich last week, and the recording is now online. I really appreciate the invitation, and all of the great questions and comments following the talk.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDGo...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDGo...
Third Thursday Lecture - Samurai, Knights, and Nationalisms: The Middle Ages in Modern Japan
YouTube video by Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures
www.youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:47 PM
I was very fortunate to have the chance to speak at @sainsbury-institute.org in Norwich last week, and the recording is now online. I really appreciate the invitation, and all of the great questions and comments following the talk.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDGo...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDGo...
Really looking forward to this, and to being back in Norwich!
Third Thursday Lecture - Samurai, Knights, and Nationalisms: The Middle Ages in Modern Japan
Thu 15 Jan 2026 with @olegb.bsky.social (@york.ac.uk)
6:00pm GMT, In-person in Norwich (venue TBC) & online via Zoom
🎟 Free and open to all – booking essential us06web.zoom.us/webi...
Thu 15 Jan 2026 with @olegb.bsky.social (@york.ac.uk)
6:00pm GMT, In-person in Norwich (venue TBC) & online via Zoom
🎟 Free and open to all – booking essential us06web.zoom.us/webi...
January 5, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Really looking forward to this, and to being back in Norwich!
I'll be giving a talk at The Japan Society in London next month on “Japan, Britain, and the Globalisation of the Samurai," which will also tie into some of themes of the upcoming British Museum special exhibition.
www.japansociety.org.uk/event?event=...
www.japansociety.org.uk/event?event=...
The Japan Society - Japan, Britain, and the Globalisation of the Samurai - with Oleg Benesch
www.japansociety.org.uk
December 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I'll be giving a talk at The Japan Society in London next month on “Japan, Britain, and the Globalisation of the Samurai," which will also tie into some of themes of the upcoming British Museum special exhibition.
www.japansociety.org.uk/event?event=...
www.japansociety.org.uk/event?event=...
From 3 February 2026, the special exhibition "Samurai" will be at the British Museum. I've had a lot of fun working on this together with the brilliant Rosina Buckland. If you happen to be in London, and feel that you need more samurai in your life, do drop by!
www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
Samurai
This major exhibition reveals the real story of the samurai, from medieval battlefields to modern blockbusters.
www.britishmuseum.org
December 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM
From 3 February 2026, the special exhibition "Samurai" will be at the British Museum. I've had a lot of fun working on this together with the brilliant Rosina Buckland. If you happen to be in London, and feel that you need more samurai in your life, do drop by!
www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
Finally out now 🥳🎉 -- and in OA! 🙏
Katja Triplett / Yoshimi Orii / Pia Jolliffe (eds.) (2025): Japan in the Early Modern World: Religion, Translation, and Transnational Relations @ doi.org/10.1007/978-...
Includes two contributions by yours truly on Jesuit prints from Japan. 1/
Katja Triplett / Yoshimi Orii / Pia Jolliffe (eds.) (2025): Japan in the Early Modern World: Religion, Translation, and Transnational Relations @ doi.org/10.1007/978-...
Includes two contributions by yours truly on Jesuit prints from Japan. 1/
Japan in the Early Modern World
This open access contributed volume examines the transnational relations between Japan and (Counter) Reformation Europe through the lens of translation.
doi.org
September 3, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Finally out now 🥳🎉 -- and in OA! 🙏
Katja Triplett / Yoshimi Orii / Pia Jolliffe (eds.) (2025): Japan in the Early Modern World: Religion, Translation, and Transnational Relations @ doi.org/10.1007/978-...
Includes two contributions by yours truly on Jesuit prints from Japan. 1/
Katja Triplett / Yoshimi Orii / Pia Jolliffe (eds.) (2025): Japan in the Early Modern World: Religion, Translation, and Transnational Relations @ doi.org/10.1007/978-...
Includes two contributions by yours truly on Jesuit prints from Japan. 1/
Fascinating footage.
Timelapse footage of the transformation of Norwich Castle's Great Hall www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqxQ... #castles #medievalsky
The transformation of Norwich Castle's Great Hall
Norwich Castle has reopened after a £27.5 million redevelopment, where experts restored its medieval features and added modern upgrades for accessibility and comfort. Watch this timelapse footage to…
www.youtube.com
September 3, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Fascinating footage.
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
As people have their heads in syllabi and classes, I’d like to highlight how ‘In the Land of the Lacandón: A Graphic History of Adventure and Imperialism’ (MQUP 2025) can be used in teaching. (Please repost and push this thread along.)
August 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM
As people have their heads in syllabi and classes, I’d like to highlight how ‘In the Land of the Lacandón: A Graphic History of Adventure and Imperialism’ (MQUP 2025) can be used in teaching. (Please repost and push this thread along.)
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
Unpacking. It’s finally here. Best of all: you can share the excitement for free, as the book is open access. Follow the link in the post below to download a PDF or EPUB version.
Happy reading and happy strolling through Japanese garden history!
Happy reading and happy strolling through Japanese garden history!
July 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Unpacking. It’s finally here. Best of all: you can share the excitement for free, as the book is open access. Follow the link in the post below to download a PDF or EPUB version.
Happy reading and happy strolling through Japanese garden history!
Happy reading and happy strolling through Japanese garden history!
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
Having spent a bit of time trying to pin down what "medieval" means in Indian historiography, I sympathise with the guy who just put "(though no one agrees)" after his proposed date range
June 24, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Having spent a bit of time trying to pin down what "medieval" means in Indian historiography, I sympathise with the guy who just put "(though no one agrees)" after his proposed date range
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
🧵 of my favourite sixteenth-century bronze statues flanking the empty tomb of Maximilian I in the Innsbruck Hofkirche
June 15, 2025 at 10:05 AM
🧵 of my favourite sixteenth-century bronze statues flanking the empty tomb of Maximilian I in the Innsbruck Hofkirche
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
Hurrah!! Brilliant new book from my wonderful department colleague!
Many congratulations to Dr Catriona Kennedy @trionakennedy.bsky.social on her new book, Women, Politics, and the Irish Public Sphere in the Age of Revolution, from Oxford University Press. A beautiful and insightful book! 📚💫🎉
Find out more @oxfordunipress.bsky.social: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Find out more @oxfordunipress.bsky.social: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
June 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Hurrah!! Brilliant new book from my wonderful department colleague!
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
Inventing the Way of the Samurai by @olegb.bsky.social explores the concept of “Bushido” from genesis in 19th C Japan as an “invented tradition” in response to European concepts to its postwar rehabilitation.
June 11, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Inventing the Way of the Samurai by @olegb.bsky.social explores the concept of “Bushido” from genesis in 19th C Japan as an “invented tradition” in response to European concepts to its postwar rehabilitation.
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
This is wonderful 👇
May 28, 2025 at 7:40 AM
This is wonderful 👇
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
Teachers/Profs, etc. who use video games as part of your course materials: how do you do it? You can't require everyone to own a gaming system, and lord knows your school isn't providing them to students. I see lots written about how to integrate game content, but not much on the logistics.
May 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Teachers/Profs, etc. who use video games as part of your course materials: how do you do it? You can't require everyone to own a gaming system, and lord knows your school isn't providing them to students. I see lots written about how to integrate game content, but not much on the logistics.
For anyone interested in castles, emperors, and theme parks, Ran Zwigenberg and my article on the modern history of Fushimi Momoyama Castle in Kyoto has just come out from Japan Review. www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/japa...
May 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
For anyone interested in castles, emperors, and theme parks, Ran Zwigenberg and my article on the modern history of Fushimi Momoyama Castle in Kyoto has just come out from Japan Review. www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/japa...
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
April 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
This looks great!
Alice Conklin, historian & author of 'In the Museum of Man' & 'A Mission to Civilize' says
“This captivating graphic history is a wonderful teaching tool, showing how historians today can work with unpalatable materials inherited from colonialism.”
Preorders help! 🗃️
bookshop.org/p/books/in-t...
“This captivating graphic history is a wonderful teaching tool, showing how historians today can work with unpalatable materials inherited from colonialism.”
Preorders help! 🗃️
bookshop.org/p/books/in-t...
In the Land of the Lacandón: A Graphic History of Adventure and Imperialism
A Graphic History of Adventure and Imperialism
bookshop.org
March 27, 2025 at 7:41 PM
This looks great!
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
Listening now to @olegb.bsky.social's interview with Matt Lewis of Echoes of History about Azuchi Castle, and unsurprisingly it's great!
Give it a listen on your podcast platform of choice!
Give it a listen on your podcast platform of choice!
Azuchi Castle: The Ultimate Fortress
Podcast Episode · Echoes of History · 03/17/2025 · 46m
podcasts.apple.com
March 20, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Listening now to @olegb.bsky.social's interview with Matt Lewis of Echoes of History about Azuchi Castle, and unsurprisingly it's great!
Give it a listen on your podcast platform of choice!
Give it a listen on your podcast platform of choice!
As a lifelong comics fan, I'm excited that our discussion of "Graphic Narratives and History in the Americas" has just appeared Open Access in the latest issue of the American Historical Review from @historians.org. It's been a lot of fun with some incredible people!
academic.oup.com/ahr/article/...
academic.oup.com/ahr/article/...
Graphic Narratives and History in the Americas
In recent years, graphic narratives have gained greater recognition within the historical profession. University presses publish series of graphic historie
academic.oup.com
March 13, 2025 at 8:41 PM
As a lifelong comics fan, I'm excited that our discussion of "Graphic Narratives and History in the Americas" has just appeared Open Access in the latest issue of the American Historical Review from @historians.org. It's been a lot of fun with some incredible people!
academic.oup.com/ahr/article/...
academic.oup.com/ahr/article/...
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
This table has the January 2025 foreign population breakdown by Tokyo wards. There's data for the 10 largest national groups, then all other nationalities are lumped together. Those ten groups are much changed from 25 years ago. www.toukei.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/gaikoku/2025...
February 10, 2025 at 7:48 AM
This table has the January 2025 foreign population breakdown by Tokyo wards. There's data for the 10 largest national groups, then all other nationalities are lumped together. Those ten groups are much changed from 25 years ago. www.toukei.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/gaikoku/2025...
Reposted by Oleg Benesch
East Asian Studies at Sheffield is also home to historians who contribute to joint programmes and teach for colleagues in the History department.
Sheffield's is one of the largest interdisciplinary groupings of East Asia specialists in the UK and one of the most important globally.
Sheffield's is one of the largest interdisciplinary groupings of East Asia specialists in the UK and one of the most important globally.
Students and staff are fighting to preserve language degrees in one of the UK’s largest East Asian studies departments, after university cuts put them at risk, reports @julietterowsell.bsky.social
Thousands back call to save Sheffield East Asian studies degrees
Petition opposes merging of Japanese, Chinese and Korean into combined programme amid fears of ‘significant’ staff cuts
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 16, 2025 at 10:26 AM
East Asian Studies at Sheffield is also home to historians who contribute to joint programmes and teach for colleagues in the History department.
Sheffield's is one of the largest interdisciplinary groupings of East Asia specialists in the UK and one of the most important globally.
Sheffield's is one of the largest interdisciplinary groupings of East Asia specialists in the UK and one of the most important globally.
I just came across this samurai armour that seems to have been produced in the 19th century by modifying and decorating a recent French armour. The cuirass seems to be the same type as in the colour image. The armour is held by the Royal Armouries in Leeds. royalarmouries.org/collection/o...
January 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
I just came across this samurai armour that seems to have been produced in the 19th century by modifying and decorating a recent French armour. The cuirass seems to be the same type as in the colour image. The armour is held by the Royal Armouries in Leeds. royalarmouries.org/collection/o...