Michael K. Bourdaghs
@mbourdaghs.bsky.social
Scholar and translator, modern Japanese literature and culture; I also write fiction, music criticism, and sundry other things. Plus the occasional sumo and baseball post. Faculty at University of Chicago. www.bourdaghs.com
Legendary singer-songwriter Kanenobu Sachiko 金延幸子 will do a free concert with her Big Sky Band at UChicago 12/4. We were originally scheduled to do this in 2020 but then the damn virus arrived; I'm delighted we are finally able to do it! Register here: sachiko_kanenobu_performance.eventbrite.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Legendary singer-songwriter Kanenobu Sachiko 金延幸子 will do a free concert with her Big Sky Band at UChicago 12/4. We were originally scheduled to do this in 2020 but then the damn virus arrived; I'm delighted we are finally able to do it! Register here: sachiko_kanenobu_performance.eventbrite.com
Norma Field delivers the 19th Annual Tetsuo Najita Distinguished Lecture in Japanese Studies, November 21, 2025 at UChicago.
November 5, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Norma Field delivers the 19th Annual Tetsuo Najita Distinguished Lecture in Japanese Studies, November 21, 2025 at UChicago.
Coming up next month in Chicago: former AKB48 member Iwata Karen in a solo performance with songs and stories.
October 30, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Coming up next month in Chicago: former AKB48 member Iwata Karen in a solo performance with songs and stories.
Tomorrow (10/18/2025) is "Arts and Humanities Day" at UChicago. Speakers include such luminaries as Amitav Ghosh, Roxanne Gay, Nick Offerman, Gary Shteyngart--and yours truly (in agate font at the bottom of the bill), speaking on Japanese popular music. humanitiesday.uchicago.edu/presentations
October 17, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Tomorrow (10/18/2025) is "Arts and Humanities Day" at UChicago. Speakers include such luminaries as Amitav Ghosh, Roxanne Gay, Nick Offerman, Gary Shteyngart--and yours truly (in agate font at the bottom of the bill), speaking on Japanese popular music. humanitiesday.uchicago.edu/presentations
Legendary pianist Yamashita Yosuke 山下洋輔 opened today's first day of the 2025 Hyde Park Jazz Festival here in Chicago. A striking set by "Nikutai Mondo," also featuring Aoki Tatsu 青木達幸on bass and Tomatsu Takahiro 戸松美貴博 on "body movement."
September 28, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Legendary pianist Yamashita Yosuke 山下洋輔 opened today's first day of the 2025 Hyde Park Jazz Festival here in Chicago. A striking set by "Nikutai Mondo," also featuring Aoki Tatsu 青木達幸on bass and Tomatsu Takahiro 戸松美貴博 on "body movement."
Lecture next week at UChicago: TAKAHASHI Akinori on "Tsukinami as a Keyword in Japanese Culture" (in Japanese). Oct. 3, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
To attend IN-PERSON: www.eventbrite.com/e/takahashi-...
To attend VIRTUALLY: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
To attend IN-PERSON: www.eventbrite.com/e/takahashi-...
To attend VIRTUALLY: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
September 22, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Lecture next week at UChicago: TAKAHASHI Akinori on "Tsukinami as a Keyword in Japanese Culture" (in Japanese). Oct. 3, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
To attend IN-PERSON: www.eventbrite.com/e/takahashi-...
To attend VIRTUALLY: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
To attend IN-PERSON: www.eventbrite.com/e/takahashi-...
To attend VIRTUALLY: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
New translation: KOBAYASHI Erika, “Seeing the Light:
A Graphic Odyssey - with Cat - Through the History of Radiation ” Volumes 1-3, translated by Winifred Bird.
arbarobooks.com/books
A Graphic Odyssey - with Cat - Through the History of Radiation ” Volumes 1-3, translated by Winifred Bird.
arbarobooks.com/books
June 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
New translation: KOBAYASHI Erika, “Seeing the Light:
A Graphic Odyssey - with Cat - Through the History of Radiation ” Volumes 1-3, translated by Winifred Bird.
arbarobooks.com/books
A Graphic Odyssey - with Cat - Through the History of Radiation ” Volumes 1-3, translated by Winifred Bird.
arbarobooks.com/books
New Book: "The Advent of Sound in Japanese Cinema: A Handbook," edited by Sean O'Reilly.
www.mhmjapandocuments.com/copy-of-hand...
www.mhmjapandocuments.com/copy-of-hand...
June 18, 2025 at 1:23 PM
New Book: "The Advent of Sound in Japanese Cinema: A Handbook," edited by Sean O'Reilly.
www.mhmjapandocuments.com/copy-of-hand...
www.mhmjapandocuments.com/copy-of-hand...
Last night we took in Klaus Mäkelä leading the Chicago Symphony in Mahler's Symphony #3. Excellent work by the 220 musicians, particularly the soloists. Mäkelä foregrounded the sharp turns and shifts, highlighting the 20th century modernist Mahler over the 19th century romantic-my kinda guy.
April 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Last night we took in Klaus Mäkelä leading the Chicago Symphony in Mahler's Symphony #3. Excellent work by the 220 musicians, particularly the soloists. Mäkelä foregrounded the sharp turns and shifts, highlighting the 20th century modernist Mahler over the 19th century romantic-my kinda guy.
Yesterday afternoon at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago.
April 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Yesterday afternoon at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago.
Coming up April 1, 2025 at UChicago: An evening of Japanese verbal performance arts: rakugo, kodan, and monomane! Free and open to the public, register here
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
March 12, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Coming up April 1, 2025 at UChicago: An evening of Japanese verbal performance arts: rakugo, kodan, and monomane! Free and open to the public, register here
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
The 2025 Tetsuo Najita Distinguished Lecture in Japanese Studies: Kohei Saito speaking on "The Revival of Japanese Marxism in the 21st Century." Friday, April 4, 5:00 pm, Assembly Hall, International House at UChicago.
Registration:
www.eventbrite.com/e/18th-annua...
Registration:
www.eventbrite.com/e/18th-annua...
March 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
The 2025 Tetsuo Najita Distinguished Lecture in Japanese Studies: Kohei Saito speaking on "The Revival of Japanese Marxism in the 21st Century." Friday, April 4, 5:00 pm, Assembly Hall, International House at UChicago.
Registration:
www.eventbrite.com/e/18th-annua...
Registration:
www.eventbrite.com/e/18th-annua...
Next week at UChicago: Christina Yi speaking on "Imperial Testaments: Literatures of Dislocation in Modern Japan." Thursday, 1/30/2025 at 5:00 p.m. Details and registration here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ceas-lectu...
January 24, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Next week at UChicago: Christina Yi speaking on "Imperial Testaments: Literatures of Dislocation in Modern Japan." Thursday, 1/30/2025 at 5:00 p.m. Details and registration here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ceas-lectu...
Next month at UChicago: Book talk by Simon Avenell (Australia National University) on "Asia and Postwar Japan: Deimperialization, Civic Activism, and National Identity." 1/22/2025 at 12:00 noon, Seminary Coop Bookstore.
eabook_simon_avenell.eventbrite.com
eabook_simon_avenell.eventbrite.com
December 23, 2024 at 3:14 PM
Next month at UChicago: Book talk by Simon Avenell (Australia National University) on "Asia and Postwar Japan: Deimperialization, Civic Activism, and National Identity." 1/22/2025 at 12:00 noon, Seminary Coop Bookstore.
eabook_simon_avenell.eventbrite.com
eabook_simon_avenell.eventbrite.com
Coming up this Friday and Saturday (Dec. 6-7, 2024) at UChicago: "Translating Embodiedness Around Japan" workshop. Free and open to the public; register here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/translatin...
www.eventbrite.com/e/translatin...
December 3, 2024 at 1:26 PM
Coming up this Friday and Saturday (Dec. 6-7, 2024) at UChicago: "Translating Embodiedness Around Japan" workshop. Free and open to the public; register here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/translatin...
www.eventbrite.com/e/translatin...
Conference on "The Cultural Cold War and Literature: Geopolitics of Publication Culture," Jan. 11 (Senshu University, Tokyo) & 13 (Kyoto University), 2025, plus online. Register at: forms.gle/VhnFixcdLXgS...
December 2, 2024 at 6:51 PM
Conference on "The Cultural Cold War and Literature: Geopolitics of Publication Culture," Jan. 11 (Senshu University, Tokyo) & 13 (Kyoto University), 2025, plus online. Register at: forms.gle/VhnFixcdLXgS...
Coming up next month at UChicago: Yulia Frumer speaking on "Manufactured Love: Engineering Attachment in Japanese Robotics," 5:00 p.m. 12/10/2024. Learn more and register to attend:
cls_yulia_frumer.eventbrite.com
cls_yulia_frumer.eventbrite.com
November 27, 2024 at 12:41 PM
Coming up next month at UChicago: Yulia Frumer speaking on "Manufactured Love: Engineering Attachment in Japanese Robotics," 5:00 p.m. 12/10/2024. Learn more and register to attend:
cls_yulia_frumer.eventbrite.com
cls_yulia_frumer.eventbrite.com
Next week at UChicago: "Images of Sex Workers at the Art Museum: A Panel Discussion." Nov. 18, 2024, 6–8 pm, Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, UChicago (5733 S University Ave).
November 15, 2024 at 11:23 PM
Next week at UChicago: "Images of Sex Workers at the Art Museum: A Panel Discussion." Nov. 18, 2024, 6–8 pm, Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, UChicago (5733 S University Ave).
Coming up next month at UChicago: "Translating Embodiedness Around Japan" with a fantastic group of speakers. Register for the event here: www.eventbrite.com/e/translatin...
November 14, 2024 at 3:24 AM
Coming up next month at UChicago: "Translating Embodiedness Around Japan" with a fantastic group of speakers. Register for the event here: www.eventbrite.com/e/translatin...
Some literary tourism today in Beijing: the Lu Xun Museum.
October 26, 2024 at 9:40 AM
Some literary tourism today in Beijing: the Lu Xun Museum.
I'm looking forward to presenting at this conference in Tokyo on November 17. All sorts of interesting people speaking on the work of Hotta Yoshie. My talk will focus on his remarkable 1965 novel "Sphinx." The conference will also be live-streamed. Details at link below.
forms.gle/AYP6fHFn9kTx...
forms.gle/AYP6fHFn9kTx...
October 15, 2024 at 11:34 AM
I'm looking forward to presenting at this conference in Tokyo on November 17. All sorts of interesting people speaking on the work of Hotta Yoshie. My talk will focus on his remarkable 1965 novel "Sphinx." The conference will also be live-streamed. Details at link below.
forms.gle/AYP6fHFn9kTx...
forms.gle/AYP6fHFn9kTx...
Tomiko Yoda speaking at UChicago on "(Im)personal is Political: Tanaka Mitsu and Feminist Micropolitics," October 10th, 2024, at 5 pm CT in SSRB, Tea Room.
tomiko_yoda.eventbrite.com
tomiko_yoda.eventbrite.com
September 25, 2024 at 11:05 PM
Tomiko Yoda speaking at UChicago on "(Im)personal is Political: Tanaka Mitsu and Feminist Micropolitics," October 10th, 2024, at 5 pm CT in SSRB, Tea Room.
tomiko_yoda.eventbrite.com
tomiko_yoda.eventbrite.com
"You‘ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last tv show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who is coming to save you?"
I'll be fine, I'm pretty sure.
I'll be fine, I'm pretty sure.
September 17, 2024 at 2:03 PM
"You‘ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last tv show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who is coming to save you?"
I'll be fine, I'm pretty sure.
I'll be fine, I'm pretty sure.
