The History Master
@myhistorymaster.bsky.social
Just a historian & political analyst for East Asia with a pretentious social media handle. "Interesting times" are overrated.
Pinned
Since all the "old regulars" are doing it for newbies: Hello everyone, it's me, THM, the guy with the pretentious social media handle! I'm a historian of Western ties with East Asia currently moonlighting as a political analyst. Thanks to certain events *cough* my job is now more interesting!
Reposted by The History Master
Dec. 14, 1925: Princesses Tokiko Fushimi and Tomoko Kuni visit a cultural exhibition in Tokyo.
December 14, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Dec. 14, 1925: Princesses Tokiko Fushimi and Tomoko Kuni visit a cultural exhibition in Tokyo.
Reposted by The History Master
Christmas night: "But Santa, you've hardly touched your Zardoz cookies."
December 14, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Christmas night: "But Santa, you've hardly touched your Zardoz cookies."
Reposted by The History Master
Hazukashii: The Art of Feeling Secondhand Embarrassment for the Publishing Industry
December 14, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Hazukashii: The Art of Feeling Secondhand Embarrassment for the Publishing Industry
Reposted by The History Master
yeah this is the part of Nate-style popularism that bothers me the most - the idea that having principles is not smart and not savvy and generally beneath them
the result is treating public opinion as immutable because how can you change people’s minds if you don’t believe in anything yourself
the result is treating public opinion as immutable because how can you change people’s minds if you don’t believe in anything yourself
like his complaint is literally that there are people who believe in things, believe those things are right, and believe in those things regardless of whether they are popular.
December 13, 2025 at 11:27 PM
yeah this is the part of Nate-style popularism that bothers me the most - the idea that having principles is not smart and not savvy and generally beneath them
the result is treating public opinion as immutable because how can you change people’s minds if you don’t believe in anything yourself
the result is treating public opinion as immutable because how can you change people’s minds if you don’t believe in anything yourself
Reposted by The History Master
As an author, I’ve already gotten multiple emails from people asking me for fake articles and books that I’ve supposedly written, because chatbots have told them fake references. I *cannot imagine* the frustration and time waste for librarians and especially ILL library professionals right now.
December 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
As an author, I’ve already gotten multiple emails from people asking me for fake articles and books that I’ve supposedly written, because chatbots have told them fake references. I *cannot imagine* the frustration and time waste for librarians and especially ILL library professionals right now.
Reposted by The History Master
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
Reposted by The History Master
Today is the 10th anniversary of one of the stupidest tweets ever written
December 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Today is the 10th anniversary of one of the stupidest tweets ever written
The pajama pilot over Pearl Harbor www.militarytimes.com/veterans/mil...
The pajama pilot over Pearl Harbor
Philip M. Rasmussen was one of the few American pilots to get into the air in the skies on Dec. 7, 1941. He was still in his pajamas.
www.militarytimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The pajama pilot over Pearl Harbor www.militarytimes.com/veterans/mil...
Reposted by The History Master
I sometimes think about how digital archeology will one day be seen as a legit field of study, something to get a PhD in and devote a career towards, digging up meta data on old tripod websites and archaic social media. I know people do it now, but in the future they will be seen as historians.
December 7, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I sometimes think about how digital archeology will one day be seen as a legit field of study, something to get a PhD in and devote a career towards, digging up meta data on old tripod websites and archaic social media. I know people do it now, but in the future they will be seen as historians.
Reposted by The History Master
Vincent Price and his daughter Victoria picking out a Charlie Brown Christmas tree in Los Angeles, 1970.
December 6, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Vincent Price and his daughter Victoria picking out a Charlie Brown Christmas tree in Los Angeles, 1970.
Reposted by The History Master
Now on VHS, LASERDISC, and newcomer DVD: the late Satoshi Kon's 1997 critique of idol culture and commentary upon parasocial relationships between idol and fan and losing one's identity: PERFECT BLUE.
📖: Newtype Magazine, 1998
📖: Newtype Magazine, 1998
December 4, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Now on VHS, LASERDISC, and newcomer DVD: the late Satoshi Kon's 1997 critique of idol culture and commentary upon parasocial relationships between idol and fan and losing one's identity: PERFECT BLUE.
📖: Newtype Magazine, 1998
📖: Newtype Magazine, 1998
Reposted by The History Master
Message from Space (Uchū Kara no Messēji, 1978) was a nutty and fun “Japanese Star Wars”. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, starring Sonny Chiba, Etsuko Shihomi, and Vic Morrow.
December 3, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Message from Space (Uchū Kara no Messēji, 1978) was a nutty and fun “Japanese Star Wars”. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, starring Sonny Chiba, Etsuko Shihomi, and Vic Morrow.
Reposted by The History Master
I think part of What's Going On with billionaires is that the daily friction of interacting with normal people is part of what anchors people to the real world, and once you have enough money to buy your way out of the friction you can knock down a load-bearing column propping up your sanity.
December 3, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I think part of What's Going On with billionaires is that the daily friction of interacting with normal people is part of what anchors people to the real world, and once you have enough money to buy your way out of the friction you can knock down a load-bearing column propping up your sanity.
Reposted by The History Master
One important thing to note is that it also did not happen in either the immediate postwar era *or* after the occupation was lifted (and you saw actual Class A war criminals like Kishi Nobusuke in office). It happened in the 1970s. In that regard it's very similar to Jim Crow-era Confederate statues
Hot take about Yasukuni: it's somewhere between funny and sad that all the convicted war criminals enshrined there were enshrined after midnight and the people responsible didn't tell anyone for, iirc, several years after doing it.
Okay, gang, great job with the Falklands Discourse this week.
On Friday we're changing gears to a 2-for-1 special Yasukuni Shrine-Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands trollfest.
Then, to ease us into the holidays, we'll be hosting a spicy "Cyprus: who does it really belong to?" debate.
On Friday we're changing gears to a 2-for-1 special Yasukuni Shrine-Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands trollfest.
Then, to ease us into the holidays, we'll be hosting a spicy "Cyprus: who does it really belong to?" debate.
December 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
One important thing to note is that it also did not happen in either the immediate postwar era *or* after the occupation was lifted (and you saw actual Class A war criminals like Kishi Nobusuke in office). It happened in the 1970s. In that regard it's very similar to Jim Crow-era Confederate statues
Good to see we've moved on from "51 State" stuff to offending Canadians in other ways...
Franklin The Turtle’s publisher responds to Pete Hegseth.
December 2, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Good to see we've moved on from "51 State" stuff to offending Canadians in other ways...
Reposted by The History Master
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
Reposted by The History Master
I like how every six months or so we get a big "This Obscure Fasicst Thinker Is Key To Understanding The Modern Right" and without fail every one of those is the biggest loser you've ever heard of writing the stupidest articles you've ever read for Racism Monthly
November 30, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I like how every six months or so we get a big "This Obscure Fasicst Thinker Is Key To Understanding The Modern Right" and without fail every one of those is the biggest loser you've ever heard of writing the stupidest articles you've ever read for Racism Monthly
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“I thought several times this year while reading a particularly good book about what amazing bargains books still are
— for $20 or $30 bucks, and often even just $5 or $10 used - you can dive into an entire world created by someone else over years of work, research, and creativity.”
#SundaySentence
— for $20 or $30 bucks, and often even just $5 or $10 used - you can dive into an entire world created by someone else over years of work, research, and creativity.”
#SundaySentence
November 30, 2025 at 1:02 PM
“I thought several times this year while reading a particularly good book about what amazing bargains books still are
— for $20 or $30 bucks, and often even just $5 or $10 used - you can dive into an entire world created by someone else over years of work, research, and creativity.”
#SundaySentence
— for $20 or $30 bucks, and often even just $5 or $10 used - you can dive into an entire world created by someone else over years of work, research, and creativity.”
#SundaySentence
Reposted by The History Master
Tom Stoppard possibly wrote a lot of your fave movie lines 👇
His IMDB profile would be incredibly impressive on its own. I had no idea until now that he was a script doctor on so many major movies!
www.imdb.com/name/nm00017...
www.imdb.com/name/nm00017...
November 29, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Tom Stoppard possibly wrote a lot of your fave movie lines 👇
Reposted by The History Master
Impossible how good reading is. You mean I just point my face at the paper for a bit and it does a whole update on my brain?
November 23, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Impossible how good reading is. You mean I just point my face at the paper for a bit and it does a whole update on my brain?
Reposted by The History Master
Hi everyone, it's new article day. 🥰
This week, we have an article by Brian Stremick that explores the rise and fall of TechTV's Anime Unleashed block, which remains a fond memory for many despite not having the same mindshare as, say, Toonami. It's a great read and we hope you enjoy it.
#anime
This week, we have an article by Brian Stremick that explores the rise and fall of TechTV's Anime Unleashed block, which remains a fond memory for many despite not having the same mindshare as, say, Toonami. It's a great read and we hope you enjoy it.
#anime
The Rise and Fall of Anime Unleashed
All that’s left of Anime Unleashed is the fond memories of its devotees and a few scattered pages that can be found using the Wayback Machine. The shows that aired, or at least some of them, can still be found on various streaming sites or on DVD and Blu-ray.
hera.fyi
November 23, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Hi everyone, it's new article day. 🥰
This week, we have an article by Brian Stremick that explores the rise and fall of TechTV's Anime Unleashed block, which remains a fond memory for many despite not having the same mindshare as, say, Toonami. It's a great read and we hope you enjoy it.
#anime
This week, we have an article by Brian Stremick that explores the rise and fall of TechTV's Anime Unleashed block, which remains a fond memory for many despite not having the same mindshare as, say, Toonami. It's a great read and we hope you enjoy it.
#anime
Reposted by The History Master
I once knew a Federal bank examiner, and one time someone asked him why we had to KEEP inspecting banks over and over. He basically said every new batch of business school grads invents bank fraud from first principles.
AirBnB CEO calling it “vibe revenue” just 👨🍳 😘
The underlying cause of every bubble - debt masquerading as financial innovation - depends on not just short financial memory & speculative neophytism, but reinventing jargon of finance, like how each generation of kids has new ways to say same things.
The underlying cause of every bubble - debt masquerading as financial innovation - depends on not just short financial memory & speculative neophytism, but reinventing jargon of finance, like how each generation of kids has new ways to say same things.
November 22, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I once knew a Federal bank examiner, and one time someone asked him why we had to KEEP inspecting banks over and over. He basically said every new batch of business school grads invents bank fraud from first principles.
Reposted by The History Master
DOH. HUGE NEWS in the tariff wars!
(Point Roberts is a tiny sliver of America you can basically only reach from Canada.)
(Point Roberts is a tiny sliver of America you can basically only reach from Canada.)
November 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM
DOH. HUGE NEWS in the tariff wars!
(Point Roberts is a tiny sliver of America you can basically only reach from Canada.)
(Point Roberts is a tiny sliver of America you can basically only reach from Canada.)
Reposted by The History Master
Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan celebrates 80 years at the forefront of press freedom @fccjapan.bsky.social www.japantimes.co.jp/community/20...
Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan celebrates 80 years at the forefront of press freedom
Since its founding in 1945, the club has been an important professional hub and played host to a startling array of political and cultural figures from around the world.
www.japantimes.co.jp
November 17, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan celebrates 80 years at the forefront of press freedom @fccjapan.bsky.social www.japantimes.co.jp/community/20...
Reposted by The History Master
Ken Burn’s new documentary, “The American Revolution,” honors the dignity and meaning of the founding’s revolutionary ideals while taking an unsparing look at the war’s cruelties and costs, Jill Lepore writes.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/11/17/what-was-the-american-revolution-for
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/11/17/what-was-the-american-revolution-for
What Was the American Revolution For?
Amid plans to mark the nation’s semiquincentennial, many are asking whether or not the people really do rule, and whether the law is still king.
www.newyorker.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Ken Burn’s new documentary, “The American Revolution,” honors the dignity and meaning of the founding’s revolutionary ideals while taking an unsparing look at the war’s cruelties and costs, Jill Lepore writes.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/11/17/what-was-the-american-revolution-for
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/11/17/what-was-the-american-revolution-for