iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Orion Klautau @orionklautau.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

How many degrees of separation are there between Van Damme and Prince Shōtoku? My new article open access article explores how the ancient Japanese prince became a ninja ancestor, in a story spanning figures from prewar mind-cure movements and bubble-era tokusatsu actors. doi.org/10.1080/1869...

0178

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I just saw that this book on the Japanese invasions of Korea in the 1590s has been published fully open access, with contributions from many top scholars in the field. I look forward to reading! brill.com/display/titl...

brill.com

The Aftermath of the Imjin War in Early Modern East Asia

"The Aftermath of the Imjin War in Early Modern East Asia" published on 29 Sep 2026 by Brill.

1186

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Thanks!! I didn't know about the JSTOR Daily piece, but the article it draws upon is from a special issue we've put together as part of the research project behind the BM exhibition. A second special issue will be coming out in the next few months.

011

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I'm thrilled that Michele Monserrati's excellent article on uses of samurai symbolism by the Italian far-right in the early twentieth century has been featured on JSTOR Daily: daily.jstor.org/why-italian-...

daily.jstor.org

Why Italian Fascists Loved Samurai - JSTOR Daily

Japan offered Italian Fascists a powerful example of how ancient traditions could serve modern nationalism.

35719

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Looking forward to talking samurai and global medievalism in Durham next month at the Centre for Nineteenth Century Studies Annual Welcome Event, co-hosted with the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...

durham.ac.uk

Samurai Nation - Durham University

091

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Interesting! I'm always intrigued by the pre-history of those sites before they became Gokoku Jinja in the 1930s.

000

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Thanks! I haven't made it down to the harbour. (Fabulous tree, as well!)

010

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I saw that on a visit back in 2018, and it's an impressive monument. Was the visit to the shrine (shokonsha?) or the garrison?

120

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

These are great - thanks for sharing!

010

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

That's a wonderful site, and I really like the tenshu. The modern history there is also interesting, with many of the military memorials having been moved into the Gokoku Jinja, something that also happened at other former castles that contained IJA garrisons.

200

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The Japan Foundation London has recently launched a new series of short essays introducing UK academics working on Japan. I enjoyed putting together a contribution on "The Enigma of Concrete Castles", about this phenomenon and how I came to research it. lo.jpf.go.jp/japanese-stu...

lo.jpf.go.jp

Japan Up Close Essay Series | Japan Foundation

Essays by researchers offering fresh perspectives on Japanese society, culture and everyday life. Read the full series, free online.

2143

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I can't seem to be able to view it - will need to wait until I'm next in Germany!

010

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

I really enjoyed this episode - I'm fascinated by the dynamics through which nunchaku, samurai swords, and other East Asian martial arts weapons have been popularized, portrayed, and then often regulated in Western countries, especially the US and UK.

052

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

The fantastic "Making Waves: Art of Japanese Woodblock Print" exhibition at York Art Gallery is on until the end of August. Curator Eleanor Jackson, @helenacoxcurator.bsky.social, and I recently looked at some highlights as part of the @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOl6...

youtube.com

Making Waves: The art of Japanese woodblock print - Oleg Benesch, Helena Cox and Eleanor Jackson

YouTube video by York Ideas

081

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

To be fair, Oda Nobunaga would certainly have driven one of these if he'd had the chance. He'd also have built his castle from steel-reinforced concrete if it had been available. 😁

010

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

There's also a bonus episode for subscribers, which I had a lot of fun recording with Tom Holland, talking about "The Legacy Of The Samurai: From Pearl Harbour to Star Wars": therestishistory.com/episodes/fro...

therestishistory.com

History Podcast Episodes & Archive | The Rest Is History

Explore The Rest Is History episode archive with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook. Browse history podcast episodes, series and bonus content.

010

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

The episodes are also available on the official The Rest is History site: therestishistory.com/series/dawn-...

therestishistory.com

Series - The Rest Is History

111

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

A little while back, alongside the Samurai exhibition at the British Museum, Rosina Buckland and I were involved with this 4-part series of @theresthistory.bsky.social called "Dawn of the Samurai", which has just become available on BBC Sounds: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

The Rest Is History - Dawn of the Samurai: The Shadow of the Sword (Part 1) - BBC Sounds

Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the rise of history's most formidable warriors.

170

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 04/06/2026

Ten years on from the Brexit vote: a new @yougov.co.uk poll finds that 77% of the British public have trust in the expertise of historians bit.ly/49I9NV7 It's heartening to hear that so many value, and certainly haven't had enough of, the historian as expert. #Skystorians 1/4

Screen shot of YouGov ranking of experts showing 'historians' and a Royal Historical Society 'Trust me, I'm a historian' badge.

411438

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

With the World Cup approaching, I thought I’d share a topical story about an underwhelming England performance: In May 1958 England were preparing for the tournament with a friendly against Portugal. Beware, warned Roy Peskett in the Daily Mail, of Augusto Rocha, ‘o Pequeno Tigre’ from Macao

On the left is a yellow and blue advert for the 1958 Sweden World Cup and on the right is a black and white picture of Augusto Rocha.

272

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Modern Japan History Association @modernjapanhist.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

For anyone interested, MJHA's recent roundtable on the history behind myths about the ninja and the samurai is now available on the MJHA YouTube Channel! Featuring Ran Zwigenberg (Penn State), Polina Barducci (Cambridge), Rob Tuck (ASU), and Oleg Benesch (York University). Link in the replies!

Modern Japan History Association Roundtable #4: Ninja vs. Samurai - Warrior Icons in History, Popular Culture, and the Martial Arts

12711

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Last week I posted Song Qingling on a fun dove-shaped jet, so today I thought I’d stay on the theme of rocket-power in Mao-era Chinese propaganda. The most famous example of which is ‘rocket Mao’ from this Great Leap Forward poster from 1958. (1/7) #China #Skystorians #propaganda #Communism

Chinese workers and peasants stride across large waves out at sea. One drives a tractor. In the back there is a man who looks like Mao on a rocket reading a Little Red Book.

1107

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Asian Review of Books @asianreviewofbooks.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

New Book Announcement: “Samurai” by Rosina Buckland and Oleg Benesch @uwapress.uw.edu @britishmuseum.bsky.social asianreviewofbooks.com/samurai-by-r...

0126

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Jon Howlett @jonhowlett.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

I happened across this cover for the January 1957 edition of China Reconstructs, an ‘external propaganda’ publication for overseas readers. Featuring a flyover from Song Qingling (宋庆龄) in a dove-shaped jet(!), it captures many of the key features of 'external propaganda' (1/8) 🧵 #skystorians #china

A magazine cover in cartoon style with newspaper workers busily producing their next edition.

3165

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

I recently had a fun conversation with @mattalt.bsky.social and Satona Suzuki about samurai and popular culture as part of the British Museum events programme for the Samurai exhibition. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lHj...

youtube.com

Samurai: the making of a global icon

YouTube video by British Museum Events

0258

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

In Our Time this morning is on Indian Indentured Labour, with (among others) the excellent Dr Purba Hossein. One for the #Skystorians. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

bbc.co.uk

BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.

0185

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

With "Global Samurai II" to come later in the year! 😁

020

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"The Transnational Samurai: Nation-Building and Community for the Italian Far-Right" by Michele Monserrati. 12/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

010

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"Honor and Loyalty: Staging Chushingura in Nazi Germany" by Sarah Panzer. 11/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

110

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"Discussing Caste, Independence, and the Nation: Avatars and Omissions of the Samurai in Colonial South Asia" by Maria Framke. 10/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

110

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"What Time are the Samurai? Visions of Modernity in Twentieth-Century Britain" by Chika Tonooka. 9/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

110

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"Steadfast Resolve: Stoicism, the Way of the Samurai, and the Struggle over Japan's National Character" by Sarah Thal. 8/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

110

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"Engineering Elites: The First Japanese MIT Students as Samurai" by Hiromu Nagahara. 7/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

110

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"'The Supreme Command of Our Forces is in Our Hands': Restoring Imperial Authority and the Vilification of the Samurai" by Sven Saaler. 6/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

110

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"Samurai in Southeast Asia: The Lives and Afterlives of Takayama Ukon and Yamada Nagamasa" by Birgit Tremml-Werner. 5/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

110

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"Deifying Warlords: Mythologizing Samurai Leaders in Early Modern and Modern Japan" by Morgan Pitelka. 4/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

121

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"Hunting and Samurai Authority in Korea during the Imjin War of 1592-1598" by Rebekah Clements. 3/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000...

110

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"Global Samurai: Japan's Warriors across Time and Space" by Rosina Buckland and myself. 2/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000549

110

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

I'm thrilled to announce "Global Samurai I" - a special issue of Japan Review, featuring 11 open-access articles and with a wonderful cover by Tetsuya Noguchi. This research feeds into and builds upon the "Samurai" exhibition now on at the British Museum 1/12 nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/search?searc...

15526

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Venus Bivar @vbivar.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Went to London today to see the spectacular Samurai exhibit that @olegb.bsky.social co-curated and to do some research at the BL, forgetting that it's April and the plane trees are out in full force. Lord help me. How do Londoners survive Spring??? HOW???

media.tenor.com

a man in a suit is blowing his nose with a napkin .

ALT: a man in a suit is blowing his nose with a napkin .

2131

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

This Friday and Saturday (UK time) we'll be hosting a public symposium on "Global Samurai" at SOAS University of London, as part of the programme of the British Museum exhibition "Samurai" Event page, including programme and registration information: www.britishmuseum.org/events/globa...

0148

Reposted by Oleg Benesch

Aidan Horner @aidanhorner.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Exciting news! The @yorkpsychology.bsky.social are recruiting 3 new ART (research and teaching) lecturers! One role will be prioritised for cognitive, affective and/or social neuroscience. #neuroskyence #cognition #psychscisky #neurojobs

jobs.york.ac.uk

Jobs - The University of York

16459

Oleg Benesch @olegb.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

This is a fantastic video about using AI for analysis of historical materials, in this case a Japanese postcard from the early twentieth century.

051