معرفی
Dr. Michael Wert is an Associate Professor of History at Marquette University's College of Arts & Sciences, where he has served since 2007, initially as Assistant Professor (2007-2014) before promotion to Associate Professor (2014-present). He currently serves as Chair of the History Department. His academic focus centers on East Asian history, particularly early modern and modern Japan, with expertise in samurai history, the Meiji Restoration, and historical memory.
Wert received his Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Irvine in 2007, with primary focus on East Asian History (Japan) and secondary field in World History. He completed his undergraduate studies in East Asian Studies at The George Washington University in 1997. Prior to his current position at Marquette, he held teaching positions at Oberlin College, Sophia University, Temple University Japan, and the University of California Irvine.
Wert's research explores the intersection of martial culture, historical memory, and national identity in Japan, with particular emphasis on the Meiji Restoration period. His work employs memory theory to analyze how historical narratives are constructed around 'losers' of major historical transitions. He has published extensively on samurai history, examining how the figure of the samurai has been invented and reinvented through different historical periods. His scholarship often connects historical analysis with contemporary issues, as evidenced by his commentary on the Ramseyer case regarding comfort women history.
Wert's scholarly output reveals consistent engagement with Japanese historical memory, particularly around the Meiji Restoration and samurai culture. His publications trace a trajectory from examining specific historical figures and events to broader theoretical considerations of how memory functions in society. Recent work shows increased engagement with contemporary political issues in Japan, particularly around historical revisionism and nationalist narratives.
- Book: Samurai: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2021)
- Book: Samurai: A Concise History (Oxford University Press, 2019)
- Book: Meiji Restoration Losers: Memory and Tokugawa Supporters in Modern Japan (Harvard University Press, 2013)
Wert actively contributes to academic discourse through invited talks at major institutions including Yale, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Chicago. His media presence includes appearances on documentaries such as 'Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan' and podcasts including 'Historically Thinking' and 'New Books in East Asian Studies.' He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Asian Studies as book review editor for Japan.
