Simon Partner wins book prize, launches Substack

Congratulations, Professor Partner!

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Simon Partner, an APSI core faculty member and professor of history at Duke, is the winner of the third Modern Japan History Association book prize for his 2024 publication, “Koume's World: The Life and Work of a Samurai Woman Before and After the Meiji Restoration.”

The Modern Japan History Association is a professional association of scholars interested in modern Japan and Japanese history whose mission is to support the creation and dissemination of knowledge about modern Japan and its history by encouraging collaboration and intellectual exchange between scholars around the world, organizing events and workshops related to research and teaching, and recognizing and promoting outstanding works of scholarship. The Association's book prize is given for a work that substantially illuminates the modern history of Japan (1868-present) or explores the historical roots of contemporary Japanese society and culture.

Asked what he hopes modern readers, particularly those new to Japanese history, take away from Koume’s story, Parner explained, “Koume lived through some unbelievably turbulent times, and I’d be happy if the reader takes away some sense of those upheavals, but also sees how one family managed to live rich and fulfilling lives within the constraints of economic challenge and historical upheaval. I also hope readers will feel some emotional connection to Koume herself.

For me, one of the great privileges of doing this sort of bottom-up history is to bring the stories of real human beings to light. They are our brothers and sisters! It’s so important that we don’t forget their stories.”
—Simon Partner

Now on Substack

Given these sentiments, it should be no surprise that Partner, a self-described “historian with a lifelong fascination for the smaller stories of world history,” has also recently ventured into the public intellectual sphere. His new Substack, “Life Stories from Japan,” introduces readers to some of the remarkable and intriguing Japanese men and women whose stories Partner encounters over the course of his research. Though often unknown to the broader public, these accounts offer highly personal windows into Japan's extraordinary modern history, including among its diaspora population. 

In a social media post announcing his new series, Partner noted, “I've been thinking about alternative ways to research and write about Japanese lives, that don't take seven years to research, write, and publish!” His first four-part post explores the story of Sakai Kitaichi, an emigrant from Matsumoto who became a fishmonger in San Francisco's Japantown. 

Launched in late January 2026, we look forward to hearing more “Life Stories from Japan” courtesy of Professor Partner.