Andrew Bernstein

Andrew Bernstein is a Professor of History at Lewis & Clark College, specializing in Japanese History and Environmental History. He holds his PhD and MA from Columbia University, and a BA from Amherst College. His office is located in Miller Center (MSC: 41), and he teaches courses in Modern Japan, Japanese Popular Culture, and Environmental History.

• PhD in History, Columbia University (1999)
• MA in History, Columbia University (1994)
• BA in History, Amherst College (1990)

Bernstein's research explores how societies negotiate continuity during upheaval. His first book investigates the transformation of death rituals in Imperial Japan through topics like cremation reforms, temple graveyard expulsions, and funeral industry evolution. His upcoming work examines Mount Fuji's contested history, revealing tensions between its symbolic status and material realities such as volcanic eruptions, military use, and industrial pollution.

Bernstein's publications reveal interdisciplinary interests spanning cultural history, environmental studies, and socio-political dynamics. His work connects ritual practices to broader themes of modernization, spatial conflict, and ecological consciousness.

Teaching philosophy emphasizes critical engagement with historical methodology. Courses like HIST 112 (Making Modern Japan) and HIST 400 (Environmental History) challenge students to interrogate assumptions in historical storytelling. Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday 11:30-1 & by appointment in Miller Center 427.