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
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
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
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!!
"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...
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
Reposted by Nick Kapur
Fantastic piece about how the rapid decline of literacy is bringing about a new Dark Ages of superstition and magical thinking.
But as Noah McCormack argues, this is a societal choice and not an inevitability.
But as Noah McCormack argues, this is a societal choice and not an inevitability.
The short-form video has brought about a second age of orality. That’s partly because phones are addicting, and partly because America’s ruling class wants it that way.
We Used to Read Things in This Country | Noah McCormack
Technology changes us—and it is currently changing us for the worse.
thebaffler.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Fantastic piece about how the rapid decline of literacy is bringing about a new Dark Ages of superstition and magical thinking.
But as Noah McCormack argues, this is a societal choice and not an inevitability.
But as Noah McCormack argues, this is a societal choice and not an inevitability.
China is now requiring social media influencers discussing professional topics to prove they have a degree or certification in that subject area
www.netinfluencer.com/china-now-re...
www.netinfluencer.com/china-now-re...
China Now Requires Degrees For Influencers Discussing Professional Topics
Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) started implementing new regulations on October 25, requiring influencers discussing professional topics to hold formal qualifications in those fields. The law...
www.netinfluencer.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM
China is now requiring social media influencers discussing professional topics to prove they have a degree or certification in that subject area
www.netinfluencer.com/china-now-re...
www.netinfluencer.com/china-now-re...
A large and growing number of Americans view sports gambling as bad for both society and for sports
October 30, 2025 at 3:36 AM
A large and growing number of Americans view sports gambling as bad for both society and for sports
Fantastic piece about how the rapid decline of literacy is bringing about a new Dark Ages of superstition and magical thinking.
But as Noah McCormack argues, this is a societal choice and not an inevitability.
But as Noah McCormack argues, this is a societal choice and not an inevitability.
The short-form video has brought about a second age of orality. That’s partly because phones are addicting, and partly because America’s ruling class wants it that way.
We Used to Read Things in This Country | Noah McCormack
Technology changes us—and it is currently changing us for the worse.
thebaffler.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Fantastic piece about how the rapid decline of literacy is bringing about a new Dark Ages of superstition and magical thinking.
But as Noah McCormack argues, this is a societal choice and not an inevitability.
But as Noah McCormack argues, this is a societal choice and not an inevitability.
One of the greatest baseball games ever, on the game's biggest stage.
Wow.
Wow.
October 28, 2025 at 6:59 AM
One of the greatest baseball games ever, on the game's biggest stage.
Wow.
Wow.
Good, short video explaining how AI slop is not only threatening to destroy the internet, but all human knowledge itself:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zfN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zfN...
AI Slop Is Destroying The Internet
YouTube video by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
www.youtube.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Good, short video explaining how AI slop is not only threatening to destroy the internet, but all human knowledge itself:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zfN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zfN...
I see ppl saying "good! there is an oversupply of PhDs right now"
The second part is incontrovertible, but it should not be the richest, most prestigious universities cutting back first, but marginal programs that don't fund their PhDs and don't set them up for success.
The second part is incontrovertible, but it should not be the richest, most prestigious universities cutting back first, but marginal programs that don't fund their PhDs and don't set them up for success.
Harvard is abandoning its core mission of preparing the future of knowledge creation by slashing PhD admissions by 2/3.
The money saved will be a tiny rounding error compared to the world's largest university endowment (~$60 billion in 2025).
The money saved will be a tiny rounding error compared to the world's largest university endowment (~$60 billion in 2025).
October 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I see ppl saying "good! there is an oversupply of PhDs right now"
The second part is incontrovertible, but it should not be the richest, most prestigious universities cutting back first, but marginal programs that don't fund their PhDs and don't set them up for success.
The second part is incontrovertible, but it should not be the richest, most prestigious universities cutting back first, but marginal programs that don't fund their PhDs and don't set them up for success.
What is the point of a university if it slashes its core educational programs?
This will only further fuel criticisms of Harvard as a "hedge fund with an attached university" and make it easier to tax their endowment.
This will only further fuel criticisms of Harvard as a "hedge fund with an attached university" and make it easier to tax their endowment.
Harvard is abandoning its core mission of preparing the future of knowledge creation by slashing PhD admissions by 2/3.
The money saved will be a tiny rounding error compared to the world's largest university endowment (~$60 billion in 2025).
The money saved will be a tiny rounding error compared to the world's largest university endowment (~$60 billion in 2025).
October 22, 2025 at 2:08 PM
What is the point of a university if it slashes its core educational programs?
This will only further fuel criticisms of Harvard as a "hedge fund with an attached university" and make it easier to tax their endowment.
This will only further fuel criticisms of Harvard as a "hedge fund with an attached university" and make it easier to tax their endowment.
Harvard is abandoning its core mission of preparing the future of knowledge creation by slashing PhD admissions by 2/3.
The money saved will be a tiny rounding error compared to the world's largest university endowment (~$60 billion in 2025).
The money saved will be a tiny rounding error compared to the world's largest university endowment (~$60 billion in 2025).
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Harvard is abandoning its core mission of preparing the future of knowledge creation by slashing PhD admissions by 2/3.
The money saved will be a tiny rounding error compared to the world's largest university endowment (~$60 billion in 2025).
The money saved will be a tiny rounding error compared to the world's largest university endowment (~$60 billion in 2025).
Reposted by Nick Kapur
Lawless and unconstitutional, not "reprogramming"
October 22, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Lawless and unconstitutional, not "reprogramming"
Reposted by Nick Kapur
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!
October 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
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!
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!
October 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
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!
Fascinating chart of which MLB teams spend the highest percentage of their revenues on player salaries.
With so many owners not even trying to win and just extracting wealth from the fans, a salary cap will not fix anything - it will only screw the players.
With so many owners not even trying to win and just extracting wealth from the fans, a salary cap will not fix anything - it will only screw the players.
October 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Fascinating chart of which MLB teams spend the highest percentage of their revenues on player salaries.
With so many owners not even trying to win and just extracting wealth from the fans, a salary cap will not fix anything - it will only screw the players.
With so many owners not even trying to win and just extracting wealth from the fans, a salary cap will not fix anything - it will only screw the players.
Meet the "Japanese snow fairy" (shima enaga), a subspecies of long-tailed tit native to Hokkaido.
It's no wonder Japanese anime characters look like they do, when actual Japanese wildlife looks like this:
It's no wonder Japanese anime characters look like they do, when actual Japanese wildlife looks like this:
October 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Meet the "Japanese snow fairy" (shima enaga), a subspecies of long-tailed tit native to Hokkaido.
It's no wonder Japanese anime characters look like they do, when actual Japanese wildlife looks like this:
It's no wonder Japanese anime characters look like they do, when actual Japanese wildlife looks like this:
Reposted by Nick Kapur
Dutch intelligence suspends sharing arrangements with the US after concluding that high level intel was routinely being shared by the White House with their friends in the Kremlin. www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/n...
Nederlandse diensten delen minder informatie met de VS: ‘Soms vertellen we dingen niet meer’
Het aantal dreigingen dat op Nederland afkomt is groot, zien de hoofden van de AIVD en de MIVD elke dag: niet alleen Russische agressie, maar ook de opmars van China als digitale macht en binnenlands ...
www.volkskrant.nl
October 19, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Dutch intelligence suspends sharing arrangements with the US after concluding that high level intel was routinely being shared by the White House with their friends in the Kremlin. www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/n...
I just don't understand how this is going to work, long-term.
It seems like such an obvious question, but if you replace all the junior-level workers with AI, how are you going to have any senior-level management in the future???
It seems like such an obvious question, but if you replace all the junior-level workers with AI, how are you going to have any senior-level management in the future???
October 17, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I just don't understand how this is going to work, long-term.
It seems like such an obvious question, but if you replace all the junior-level workers with AI, how are you going to have any senior-level management in the future???
It seems like such an obvious question, but if you replace all the junior-level workers with AI, how are you going to have any senior-level management in the future???
Reposted by Nick Kapur
This is happening!!!! December 2: just in time for Christmas present season. I am still in the anxiety stage, not yet in the Saoirse Ronan as Jo March watching her book get published scene-stage, but I'm glad other people are excited already!
Excited to dig into Hannah Shepherd's new book, out in December from UC Press:
www.ucpress.edu/books/the-na...
www.ucpress.edu/books/the-na...
October 17, 2025 at 7:51 AM
This is happening!!!! December 2: just in time for Christmas present season. I am still in the anxiety stage, not yet in the Saoirse Ronan as Jo March watching her book get published scene-stage, but I'm glad other people are excited already!
Getting ready to run the Sengoku Japan classroom simulation once again next week!
Here is a map of the starting locations of the samurai clans being played by the students, as of April 1560.
#SengokuSim
Here is a map of the starting locations of the samurai clans being played by the students, as of April 1560.
#SengokuSim
October 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Getting ready to run the Sengoku Japan classroom simulation once again next week!
Here is a map of the starting locations of the samurai clans being played by the students, as of April 1560.
#SengokuSim
Here is a map of the starting locations of the samurai clans being played by the students, as of April 1560.
#SengokuSim
Thrilled to get my hands on a copy of this new book about prewar Shintō shrines! Can't wait to read this one.
October 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Thrilled to get my hands on a copy of this new book about prewar Shintō shrines! Can't wait to read this one.
Reposted by Nick Kapur
The earlier kids receive access to a smartphone (and especially before age 13), the worse their mental health is in their twenties, study finds
October 9, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The earlier kids receive access to a smartphone (and especially before age 13), the worse their mental health is in their twenties, study finds