FEATURED AUTHOR

Peter Nosco

Professor of Asian Studies
University of British Columbia

I study the intellectual and social history of seventeenth-, eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Japan, with published work on Confucianism, nativism, popular culture, underground religious movements, values, the construction of identity, and most recently individuality.

Subjects: Area Studies, History, Religion

Biography

My degrees are from: Columbia University (BA) Oriental Studies 1971; University of Cambridge (BA) Japanese Studies 1973 and MA (honorary) 1977; and again Columbia University (PhD) Japanese Thought 1978. Aside from visiting appointments, I have spent my career at three universities: St. John's University in NY 1979-1986; the University of Southern California 1986-2003; and the University of British Columbia 2003-present. At each of these universities I provided department-level leadership and received teaching awards, and I have also served as both the elected President of the Academic Senate at USC, and the elected vice president of the Faculty Association at UBC.

Education

Columbia University PhD 1978

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

I have published work on Japanese Confucianism, nativism (Kokugaku), popular culture (including a translation of short stories by Ihara Saikaku), underground religious movements, the construction of identity, values, and most recently individuality.

Personal Interests

For many years I enjoyed racquetball and longboard surfing, but after moving to Canada in 2003 these were replaced by bicycling and long walks, especially along the shoreline near my home. I have an amateurish interest in Karl Barth and a serious interest in good food.

Books

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