Nathan Edwin Hopson

Nathan Edwin Hopson serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at the University of Bergen's Faculty of Humanities. His academic profile is distinguished by extensive research at the intersection of Japanese history, food studies, and cultural analysis. Hopson's scholarly contributions span multiple prestigious publications and demonstrate deep engagement with both historical and contemporary issues in Japanese society.

His research interests focus on modern Japanese history with particular expertise in nutrition science (1920-2005), school lunch program history, Tōhoku regional studies, culinary culture, and the professionalization of nutritionists in Japan. Hopson's work often explores the intersections of intellectual history, cultural history, and Science, Technology, and Society (STS) frameworks. His first monograph, Ennobling Japan's Savage Northeast (2017), established him as a significant voice in Tōhoku studies, examining the meaning of Japan's Northeast region from 1945-2011.

Analysis of Hopson's recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory exploring how food systems reflect broader social, political, and cultural transformations in modern Japan. His scholarship demonstrates particular interest in how state policies, cultural practices, and individual experiences intersect around food and nutrition. The recurring themes across his work include the relationship between national identity and dietary practices, the gendered dimensions of food history, and the political economy of nutrition policy.

• Formidlingsprisen (communication prize) from the Faculty of Humanities at UiB (2024)

Hopson actively disseminates research through multiple public engagement channels, most notably as a host for the New Books Network podcast series where he has produced numerous episodes on Japanese studies topics. He also contributes to academic blogs including the University of Pennsylvania's Language Log and the Recipes Project. His teaching at UiB encompasses undergraduate Japanese language instruction at all levels, Japanese history, and research methods, with plans to expand into MA-level Japanese history courses. Hopson is currently working on a book manuscript on the social history of nutrition science in Japan (1910s-1980s), scheduled for completion in 2027, and has received funding from Toshiba International Foundation for a multimedia podcast series on modern and contemporary Japan.