Sukehiro Hirakawa

Born in 1931, Sukehiro Hirakawa is Pprofessor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo and a director at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals. A prolific scholar and author, Professor Hirakawa has studied in France, Germany, and Italy, translated the Divine Comedy into Japanese, published and/or edited dozens of books, worked extensively in Japanese modern history, and has won, among other awards, the Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities, the Yomiuri Prize for Literature, the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, the Watsuji Tetsurō Culture Prize, the Order of the Sacred Treasure, and the Japan Essayist Club Prize. Professor Hirakawa’s English works include Japan’s Love-Hate Relationship with the West (Global Oriental, 2005).

Politics & Security2 years ago

Lifting the Curse of the ‘Peace Constitution’

The invasion of Ukraine has changed Japanese mindsets, dashing our illusion of peace when a dictator threatened to blow up a country with nuclear weapons.
Politics & Security2 years ago

‘Don’t Bow to Nuclear Threats’ Warns Tokyo University Professor

Choosing the option of surrender over nuclear war is dubious. Such a weak attitude is exactly what a country flashing its nuclear card would want.
Coronavirus4 years ago

Even Before Coronavirus Calamity Ends, U.S. and China Race for Global Dominance

Although the weather is still chilly, my friends drove away, one after another, to their lakeside vacation homes in another prefecture, their station wagons loaded...
Culture4 years ago

Whaling Nations Should Take A Stand As ‘Activists’ Meddle with Food Culture

I have sided with China and North Korea in the past. I was staying at the Friendship Hotel when I taught in Beijing, then suffering...
History7 years ago

Yasukuni Is Japan’s Arlington, A Monument of Respect Beyond Religions

Part 1: At Yasukuni Shrine, People Pray for the Dead; Leave Politics Out of It When foreigners ask me, “What is Yasukuni?” I...
Special Reports7 years ago

At Yasukuni Shrine, People Pray for the Dead; Leave Politics Out of It

Politics and memorials to the dead are separate things. It is civilized courtesy to distinguish between them. Is it not barbarian and uncouth to debate...

JAPAN Forward

Sukehiro Hirakawa

Stories By Sukehiro Hirakawa

Lifting the Curse of the ‘Peace Constitution’

‘Don’t Bow to Nuclear Threats’ Warns Tokyo University Professor

Even Before Coronavirus Calamity Ends, U.S. and China Race for Global Dominance

Whaling Nations Should Take A Stand As ‘Activists’ Meddle with Food Culture

Yasukuni Is Japan’s Arlington, A Monument of Respect Beyond Religions

At Yasukuni Shrine, People Pray for the Dead; Leave Politics Out of It

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