Keiichiro Atsumi

Keiichiro Atsumi is a Professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences, where he has been teaching since 1993. His academic career progressed from Research Assistant (1993-1996) to Assistant Professor (1996-1998), Associate Professor (1998-2005), and finally to Professor (2005-present). He has held visiting positions at Harvard University's Department of History (2001-2002) and Department of Government (2000-2001), as well as at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School (1999-2000), demonstrating his international scholarly engagement.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, Waseda University Graduate School (1992-1996)
• Master's in Political Science, Waseda University Graduate School (1990-1992)
• Bachelor's in Political Science, Waseda University School of Political Science and Economics (1986-1990)

Professor Atsumi specializes in Political Philosophy with a focus on Renaissance political thought, particularly the works of Machiavelli. His research explores the intersection of political theory, religion, and humanism in early modern Italy, examining how concepts of republicanism, civic virtue, and historical consciousness shaped political discourse during the Renaissance. He has made significant contributions to understanding Machiavelli's relationship to classical political thought and the development of modern political philosophy, with particular attention to the connections between Machiavelli's thought and Epicureanism, as well as the reception of Machiavelli in Japanese scholarship. His work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary political theory through his translations and interpretations of Leo Strauss's writings on Machiavelli.

His recent publications show a consistent focus on Machiavelli studies, with increasing attention to the relationship between religion and politics in Renaissance political thought. His work often bridges historical scholarship with contemporary political theory, particularly through his translations and interpretations of Leo Strauss's writings on Machiavelli. The publications demonstrate his expertise in both Japanese and Western scholarly traditions, with many works appearing in bilingual contexts and addressing cross-cultural interpretations of political concepts.

His notable recognition includes:

• Iijima Prize from Waseda University's Graduate School of Political Science (1992)

Professor Atsumi has led and participated in multiple research projects funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, with recent projects focusing on "Prophecy and Politics in the Renaissance: Machiavelli's View of Religion and the 'Myth of Florence'" (2021-2025) and "Machiavelli and the Political Culture of Florence: Is God Necessary for the Formation of Society?" (2018-2021). His scholarly activities extend to numerous professional associations including the Japanese Association of Political Philosophy, The Society for the History of Social Thought, Japanese Conference for the Study of Political Thought, Japanese Political Science Association, and the Renaissance Society of America.

At Waseda University, he teaches a comprehensive range of courses from introductory political science to advanced seminars on political thought, contributing significantly to both undergraduate and graduate education in political philosophy and the history of political ideas. His teaching portfolio includes Political Thought I & II, History of Political Thought I & II, Contemporary Citizenship Theories, and various research workshops in political theory at both undergraduate and graduate levels.