Jessamyn Abel
@jessamynabel.bsky.social
Historian of Japan at PSU, interested in democratization, infrastructure, international relations, sports, animals, and vending machines
Pinned
Jessamyn Abel
@jessamynabel.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Dream Super-Express | Stanford University Press
A symbol of the "new Japan" displayed at World's Fairs, depicted in travel posters, and celebrated as the product of a national spirit of innovation, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen—the first bullet train, dub...
www.sup.org
If you followed me for #infrastructure or #trains you might be interested in my latest book: www.sup.org/books/asian-...
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
What could go wrong?
I just filled my 2025 Tech card!
High-speed rail + Artificial Intelligence = BINGO
"Central #China: it represents the world’s first high-speed railway tunnel whose construction method was mainly determined by an artificial intelligence (AI) system."
www.scmp.com/news/china/s...
High-speed rail + Artificial Intelligence = BINGO
"Central #China: it represents the world’s first high-speed railway tunnel whose construction method was mainly determined by an artificial intelligence (AI) system."
www.scmp.com/news/china/s...
November 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
What could go wrong?
_Verge: Studies in Global Asias_ is inviting proposals from potential guest editors. Send us your ideas for a special issue!
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
_Verge: Studies in Global Asias_ is inviting proposals from potential guest editors. Send us your ideas for a special issue!
Any historians of post-WWII Europe here? What primary sources & scholarship do you use to teach upper-level History majors about legal, intellectual, institutional, cultural (etc) democratization in post-WWII Germany & Italy? #history #democracy
August 21, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Any historians of post-WWII Europe here? What primary sources & scholarship do you use to teach upper-level History majors about legal, intellectual, institutional, cultural (etc) democratization in post-WWII Germany & Italy? #history #democracy
The new issue is out!
#Japan
#Japan
Explore JJS's Summer 2025 issue: online.ucpress.edu/jjs?searchre.... Discover new book reviews and articles by Reut Harari, Edwin Michielsen, Andre Haag, Melek Ortabasi, Brian Hurley, and Satoru Hashimoto’s timely Perspectives article “Repairing a Form of Life: Ritual in Ibuse Masuji’s Black Rain.”
August 4, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The new issue is out!
#Japan
#Japan
Climate ingenuity with water: www.earthday.org/from-sewage-...
(Note: the editor added the word "global" to the title; not the author's word choice.)
(Note: the editor added the word "global" to the title; not the author's word choice.)
From Sewage to Clean Water: What Three Global Cities Teach us About Climate Ingenuity - Earth Day
Droughts in the Western U.S. are getting worse and worse. Water reclamation, which can turn sewage back into drinkable water, is a step towards a solution.
www.earthday.org
August 2, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Climate ingenuity with water: www.earthday.org/from-sewage-...
(Note: the editor added the word "global" to the title; not the author's word choice.)
(Note: the editor added the word "global" to the title; not the author's word choice.)
Leave it to the Finns, man ...
HUGE NEWS FROM HELSINKI, FINLAND
Helsinki, a city of 690 000 people, has now had a full year without any traffic fatalities. None. No pedestrian, cyclist, scooter user or car deaths.
This is a huge achievement for a city of our size. 💪🏻
A little background 🧵 1/
yle.fi/a/74-20174831
Helsinki, a city of 690 000 people, has now had a full year without any traffic fatalities. None. No pedestrian, cyclist, scooter user or car deaths.
This is a huge achievement for a city of our size. 💪🏻
A little background 🧵 1/
yle.fi/a/74-20174831
Helsinki goes a full year without a traffic death
A city traffic engineer credits the success to lower speed limits and smarter design.
yle.fi
July 31, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Leave it to the Finns, man ...
Happy International Tiger Day! More from Benjamin Abel: www.earthday.org/how-cats-con...
How Cats Control the Climate: Why We Need to Protect Tigers - Earth Day
Tigers play an important role for both their ecosystems and the climate. While some conservation has been successful, there is still much more to accomplish.
www.earthday.org
July 30, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Happy International Tiger Day! More from Benjamin Abel: www.earthday.org/how-cats-con...
I'm not sure if I'm connected to any South Asianists here, but ... have you ever used Kautilya's Arthashastra in teaching the Maurya Empire? What section did you assign? How'd it go? I'm thinking of using Book IX, "The Work of an Invader." Advice, please!
July 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I'm not sure if I'm connected to any South Asianists here, but ... have you ever used Kautilya's Arthashastra in teaching the Maurya Empire? What section did you assign? How'd it go? I'm thinking of using Book IX, "The Work of an Invader." Advice, please!
Reposted by Jessamyn Abel
June 30, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A plea for help from people who teach Southeast Asian Buddhism: What's a good primary source to assign for an intro Asian Civ-type class? Main points of the lesson: show particular aspects of Theravada & adaptation to local circumstances. I've never taught or even studied this before, so ... help!!
June 19, 2025 at 12:33 PM
A plea for help from people who teach Southeast Asian Buddhism: What's a good primary source to assign for an intro Asian Civ-type class? Main points of the lesson: show particular aspects of Theravada & adaptation to local circumstances. I've never taught or even studied this before, so ... help!!
TODAY: Want to know what a railway has to do with democracy? Come on over to Todai to hear all about it!
Inst. of Social Science, Univ. of Tokyo
May 20, 6PM
Rm. 549, Center Kaigi-shitsu, Akamon Research Bldg, Hongo Campus
"Training for Democracy: Railways and the Cultivation of a New Postwar Japan"
Inst. of Social Science, Univ. of Tokyo
May 20, 6PM
Rm. 549, Center Kaigi-shitsu, Akamon Research Bldg, Hongo Campus
"Training for Democracy: Railways and the Cultivation of a New Postwar Japan"
May 20, 2025 at 12:22 AM
TODAY: Want to know what a railway has to do with democracy? Come on over to Todai to hear all about it!
Inst. of Social Science, Univ. of Tokyo
May 20, 6PM
Rm. 549, Center Kaigi-shitsu, Akamon Research Bldg, Hongo Campus
"Training for Democracy: Railways and the Cultivation of a New Postwar Japan"
Inst. of Social Science, Univ. of Tokyo
May 20, 6PM
Rm. 549, Center Kaigi-shitsu, Akamon Research Bldg, Hongo Campus
"Training for Democracy: Railways and the Cultivation of a New Postwar Japan"
Yesterday's fun archive find: a "conte" from a 1948 radio show.
Kid: How much are those peanuts?
Shop owner: 15 yen for two bags.
Kid: So how much for just that one?
Shop owner: For the one, it’s 8 yen.
Kid: Ok, I’ll take the other one.
(Nothing to do with my research, but a nice midday chuckle.😁)
Kid: How much are those peanuts?
Shop owner: 15 yen for two bags.
Kid: So how much for just that one?
Shop owner: For the one, it’s 8 yen.
Kid: Ok, I’ll take the other one.
(Nothing to do with my research, but a nice midday chuckle.😁)
May 17, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Yesterday's fun archive find: a "conte" from a 1948 radio show.
Kid: How much are those peanuts?
Shop owner: 15 yen for two bags.
Kid: So how much for just that one?
Shop owner: For the one, it’s 8 yen.
Kid: Ok, I’ll take the other one.
(Nothing to do with my research, but a nice midday chuckle.😁)
Kid: How much are those peanuts?
Shop owner: 15 yen for two bags.
Kid: So how much for just that one?
Shop owner: For the one, it’s 8 yen.
Kid: Ok, I’ll take the other one.
(Nothing to do with my research, but a nice midday chuckle.😁)
There's an international symposium on a century of Japanese broadcasting history coming up at Nichibunken (and online), July 11. Info and registration here: www.nichibun.ac.jp/en/events/ot...
Events｜International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken)
The mission of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken), as an inter-university research institute funded by the government, is to promote and support the study of Japanese...
www.nichibun.ac.jp
May 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
There's an international symposium on a century of Japanese broadcasting history coming up at Nichibunken (and online), July 11. Info and registration here: www.nichibun.ac.jp/en/events/ot...
Off to Tokyo soon, and I'm excited to present some of my new research at Tokyo U. Details below. Hope to see you there!
"Training for Democracy: Railways and the Cultivation of a New Postwar Japan"
Tuesday, May 20, 6pm
Room 549, Akamon Research Bldg, Hongo Campus.
Discussant: Prof. Iokibe Kaoru
"Training for Democracy: Railways and the Cultivation of a New Postwar Japan"
Tuesday, May 20, 6pm
Room 549, Akamon Research Bldg, Hongo Campus.
Discussant: Prof. Iokibe Kaoru
April 26, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Off to Tokyo soon, and I'm excited to present some of my new research at Tokyo U. Details below. Hope to see you there!
"Training for Democracy: Railways and the Cultivation of a New Postwar Japan"
Tuesday, May 20, 6pm
Room 549, Akamon Research Bldg, Hongo Campus.
Discussant: Prof. Iokibe Kaoru
"Training for Democracy: Railways and the Cultivation of a New Postwar Japan"
Tuesday, May 20, 6pm
Room 549, Akamon Research Bldg, Hongo Campus.
Discussant: Prof. Iokibe Kaoru
*Verge* is now accepting submissions for Issue 13.2 "Things That Matter: Materiality and the Making of Global Asias" edited by Neelima Jeychandran, Monica Merlin, and Tina Chen.
Convergence Feature Proposal due September 30, 2025
Essay due May 1, 2026
For details visit: bit.ly/4j21tSD
Convergence Feature Proposal due September 30, 2025
Essay due May 1, 2026
For details visit: bit.ly/4j21tSD
Call for Papers for Verge Issue 13.2 “THINGS THAT MATTER: MATERIALITY AND THE MAKING OF GLOBAL ASIAS” | Global Asias Initiative
bit.ly
April 10, 2025 at 12:03 AM
*Verge* is now accepting submissions for Issue 13.2 "Things That Matter: Materiality and the Making of Global Asias" edited by Neelima Jeychandran, Monica Merlin, and Tina Chen.
Convergence Feature Proposal due September 30, 2025
Essay due May 1, 2026
For details visit: bit.ly/4j21tSD
Convergence Feature Proposal due September 30, 2025
Essay due May 1, 2026
For details visit: bit.ly/4j21tSD
At USC tomorrow! It's new stuff, so if you attend, please be nice 😉
calendar.usc.edu/event/jessam...
calendar.usc.edu/event/jessam...
Jessamyn Abel - "Practical Democracy: Cultivating a New Postwar Japan"
calendar.usc.edu
March 26, 2025 at 1:33 AM
At USC tomorrow! It's new stuff, so if you attend, please be nice 😉
calendar.usc.edu/event/jessam...
calendar.usc.edu/event/jessam...
Reposted by Jessamyn Abel
Translated this poem by Mizuno Hironori, written after military censors pulled his 1932 book from shelves due to its anti-war messaging, three years ago.
It hits different in 2025.
It hits different in 2025.
March 19, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Translated this poem by Mizuno Hironori, written after military censors pulled his 1932 book from shelves due to its anti-war messaging, three years ago.
It hits different in 2025.
It hits different in 2025.
My conversation with Michiko Suzuki about her terrific new book, Humanitarian Internationalism Under Empire, is now available on the Modern Japan History Assoc website:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=abU-...
#internationalism #empire #humanitarianism
@columbiaup.bsky.social
@modernjapanhist.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=abU-...
#internationalism #empire #humanitarianism
@columbiaup.bsky.social
@modernjapanhist.bsky.social
New Books on Japan: "Humanitarian Internationalism Under Empire" with Michiko Suzuki & Jessamyn Abel
YouTube video by Modern Japan History Association
www.youtube.com
March 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
My conversation with Michiko Suzuki about her terrific new book, Humanitarian Internationalism Under Empire, is now available on the Modern Japan History Assoc website:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=abU-...
#internationalism #empire #humanitarianism
@columbiaup.bsky.social
@modernjapanhist.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=abU-...
#internationalism #empire #humanitarianism
@columbiaup.bsky.social
@modernjapanhist.bsky.social
Wow, they remade 新幹線大爆破 (which they're calling "Bullet Train Explosion" but I think "Big Blast on the Bullet Train" would be better). Can't wait to compare it to the original, which I wrote about in *Dream Super-Express*
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxj6...
#shinkansen
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxj6...
#shinkansen
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
Bullet Train Explosion | Official Teaser | Netflix
YouTube video by Netflix Asia
www.youtube.com
March 14, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Wow, they remade 新幹線大爆破 (which they're calling "Bullet Train Explosion" but I think "Big Blast on the Bullet Train" would be better). Can't wait to compare it to the original, which I wrote about in *Dream Super-Express*
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxj6...
#shinkansen
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxj6...
#shinkansen
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
New book series in media studies on Asia from U Pitt Press: upittpress.org/series/power...
Power Currents: Asian Media in the World - University of Pittsburgh Press
upittpress.org
March 13, 2025 at 9:44 PM
New book series in media studies on Asia from U Pitt Press: upittpress.org/series/power...
Reposted by Jessamyn Abel
Scholars at Risk is seeking help with its Volunteer Proofreader Initiative—if you can, please donate some of your time to assist displaced scholars embarking on job searches in new academic environments.
Volunteer Proofreader Initiative | Scholars at Risk
Assist in the academic advancement and trajectory of SAR scholars as they (re)establish their academic careers in exile.
buff.ly
March 3, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Scholars at Risk is seeking help with its Volunteer Proofreader Initiative—if you can, please donate some of your time to assist displaced scholars embarking on job searches in new academic environments.
Reposted by Jessamyn Abel
I got to know the main presenter, Mr. Kawashima, for some project and I was so impressed by how much work he does to generate pedagogy and share knowledge with Japanese high school history teachers. He's amazing. Join us to learn what is going on in classrooms from him.
February 12, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I got to know the main presenter, Mr. Kawashima, for some project and I was so impressed by how much work he does to generate pedagogy and share knowledge with Japanese high school history teachers. He's amazing. Join us to learn what is going on in classrooms from him.