Michael K. Bourdaghs
@mbourdaghs
Scholar and translator, modern Japanese literature and culture; I also write fiction, music criticism, and sundry other things. Plus the occasional sumo and baseball post. Faculty at University of Chicago. www.bourdaghs.com
Three of the striking paintings I saw today at the "MAETA KANJI Poesy and Realism: In Commemoration of his 130th Birth and the Centennial of the 1930 Society" show at Tokyo Station Gallery: "May Day" (ca 1924), "Girl in White" (1928), and "Portrait of J.C." (1924). www.ejrcf.or.jp/gallery/engl...
There will be some other events in September that I'll post here soon as Yu Miri winds down her 10-month residency with us here at UChicago. (More info on the project we've been doing together at ceas.uchicago.edu/re-staging-j...).
First swim of the season in Lake Michigan this morning: water temperature a brisk 64 degrees, forming a nice contrast with the heatwave temperatures we're having this week in Chicago. (The photo is from a few years back, though).
Coming May 15, 2026@UChicago: Japanese folk music legend Nakagawa Goro 中川五郎 in concert, plus a pre-concert lecture by Prof. James Dorsey (Dartmouth College). Free and open to the public; register here: dorsey_nakagawa.eventbrite.com
On Saturday, April 18 at 2:00 PM, Doc Films at University of Chicago will present a screening of “Black Box Diaries” (2024, Dir. Shiori Itō · 103m · Digital) followed by an in-person conversation with Director Itō and Prof. Yuki Miyamoto of DePaul University. events.uchicago.edu/event/265285...
One of my favorite signs from today’s “No Kings” protest in Chicago.
Today, on the 15th anniversary of that horrific day in 2011, we visited Tokyo Polytechnic University's remarkable exhibit "Speaking the Unspeakable: 15 Years of Dialogue on Okawa Elementary School"「語りにくさを語るー大川小をめぐる15年の対話」. How to make sense of the senseless? r-dimension.xsrv.jp/okawa/
The Buddhist Temple of Chicago Asoka Society invites you to a conversation with acclaimed novelist/playwright Yu Miri. Yu is currently in residence at the University of Chicago as a Visiting Research Associate in East Asian Languages and Civilizations. (Thread)
Coming up 1/23/2026 at I-House, UChicago: "Japan Twang!," an hour-long performance of the modern Japanese musical style “Tsugaru-jamisen” by Satō Michiyoshi, including traditional and modern pieces, with commentary by Joshua Lee Solomon. More info and registration: www.eventbrite.com/e/japan-twan...
This Thursday! Legendary singer-songwriter Sachiko Kanenobu and her Big Sky Band are coming to UChicago for a free concert! LEARN MORE and REGISTER: sachiko_kanenobu_performance.eventbrite.com
Legendary singer-songwriter Kanenobu Sachiko 金延幸子 will do a free concert with her Big Sky Band at UChicago 12/4. We were originally scheduled to do this in 2020 but then the damn virus arrived; I'm delighted we are finally able to do it! Register here: sachiko_kanenobu_performance.eventbrite.com
Norma Field delivers the 19th Annual Tetsuo Najita Distinguished Lecture in Japanese Studies, November 21, 2025 at UChicago.
Coming up next month in Chicago: former AKB48 member Iwata Karen in a solo performance with songs and stories.
Tomorrow (10/18/2025) is "Arts and Humanities Day" at UChicago. Speakers include such luminaries as Amitav Ghosh, Roxanne Gay, Nick Offerman, Gary Shteyngart--and yours truly (in agate font at the bottom of the bill), speaking on Japanese popular music. humanitiesday.uchicago.edu/presentations
Legendary pianist Yamashita Yosuke 山下洋輔 opened today's first day of the 2025 Hyde Park Jazz Festival here in Chicago. A striking set by "Nikutai Mondo," also featuring Aoki Tatsu 青木達幸on bass and Tomatsu Takahiro 戸松美貴博 on "body movement."
Lecture next week at UChicago: TAKAHASHI Akinori on "Tsukinami as a Keyword in Japanese Culture" (in Japanese). Oct. 3, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. To attend IN-PERSON: www.eventbrite.com/e/takahashi-... To attend VIRTUALLY: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
New translation: KOBAYASHI Erika, “Seeing the Light: A Graphic Odyssey - with Cat - Through the History of Radiation ” Volumes 1-3, translated by Winifred Bird. arbarobooks.com/books
New Book: "The Advent of Sound in Japanese Cinema: A Handbook," edited by Sean O'Reilly. www.mhmjapandocuments.com/copy-of-hand...
Last night we took in Klaus Mäkelä leading the Chicago Symphony in Mahler's Symphony #3. Excellent work by the 220 musicians, particularly the soloists. Mäkelä foregrounded the sharp turns and shifts, highlighting the 20th century modernist Mahler over the 19th century romantic-my kinda guy.
Coming up April 1, 2025 at UChicago: An evening of Japanese verbal performance arts: rakugo, kodan, and monomane! Free and open to the public, register here www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
The 2025 Tetsuo Najita Distinguished Lecture in Japanese Studies: Kohei Saito speaking on "The Revival of Japanese Marxism in the 21st Century." Friday, April 4, 5:00 pm, Assembly Hall, International House at UChicago. Registration: www.eventbrite.com/e/18th-annua...
Next week at UChicago: Christina Yi speaking on "Imperial Testaments: Literatures of Dislocation in Modern Japan." Thursday, 1/30/2025 at 5:00 p.m. Details and registration here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ceas-lectu...
Next month at UChicago: Book talk by Simon Avenell (Australia National University) on "Asia and Postwar Japan: Deimperialization, Civic Activism, and National Identity." 1/22/2025 at 12:00 noon, Seminary Coop Bookstore. eabook_simon_avenell.eventbrite.com
Coming up this Friday and Saturday (Dec. 6-7, 2024) at UChicago: "Translating Embodiedness Around Japan" workshop. Free and open to the public; register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/translatin...
Conference on "The Cultural Cold War and Literature: Geopolitics of Publication Culture," Jan. 11 (Senshu University, Tokyo) & 13 (Kyoto University), 2025, plus online. Register at: forms.gle/VhnFixcdLXgS...
Coming up next month at UChicago: Yulia Frumer speaking on "Manufactured Love: Engineering Attachment in Japanese Robotics," 5:00 p.m. 12/10/2024. Learn more and register to attend: cls_yulia_frumer.eventbrite.com
Next week at UChicago: "Images of Sex Workers at the Art Museum: A Panel Discussion." Nov. 18, 2024, 6–8 pm, Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, UChicago (5733 S University Ave).
Coming up next month at UChicago: "Translating Embodiedness Around Japan" with a fantastic group of speakers. Register for the event here: www.eventbrite.com/e/translatin...