Luke Roberts

Luke Roberts is an Associate Professor of Japanese History at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). His research focuses on Japanese political, social, and economic history during the Edo period, with a particular emphasis on the Tosa domain (present-day Kōchi Prefecture). Roberts holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and has been affiliated with UCSB since 1991. He teaches courses on Japanese history, including surveys of early modern Japan, samurai history, and research methodologies.

His work explores themes such as regional governance, merchant networks, and the intersection of local and national identities. Notable publications include Mercantilism in a Japanese Domain (1998) and Performing the Great Peace (2012), which analyze Tosa's economic policies and political culture. Roberts also curates historical exhibits and collaborates with institutions like the Kochi Castle Museum of History.

Roberts' current projects include a biography of Mori Yoshiki, a Tosa samurai, and studies on foreign relations and maritime security in Tokugawa Japan. His research integrates archival documents, material culture, and visual sources to provide nuanced insights into Edo-period life.