Kan Kimura

Kan Kimura (, Kimura Kan; born 7 April 1966) is a Japanese political scientist specializing in South Korean politics, comparative politics, nationalism, democratization, political culture, historical memory, and Japan–South Korea relations. He is Professor at the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University.

Kimura is known for his studies of Korean nationalism, authoritarianism, democratization, historical memory, and historical disputes between Japan and South Korea. His books have received the Special Prize of the Asian and Pacific Prize, the Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Yomiuri–Yoshino Sakuzo Prize.

In addition to academic writing, Kimura has written extensively for general audiences on Korea, Japan–South Korea relations, higher education, and Japanese public life. He has contributed essays and columns to outlets including Newsweek Japan, Bunshun Online, and Nikkei.

Early life and education

Kimura was born in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He studied at Kyoto University, receiving an LL.B. from the Faculty of Law in 1990 and an LL.M. from the Graduate School of Law in 1992. He withdrew from the doctoral program in 1993 and later received a Doctor of Laws degree from Kyoto University in 2001.

He is also an avid road cyclist. His publicly available activity log on Komoot records long-distance cycling activities, including years in which the recorded total distance exceeded 6,000 km.

Honors and awards

2001 – Special Prize, 13th Asian and Pacific Prize, for Chosen/Kankoku Nashonarizumu to "Shokoku" Ishiki. 2003 – Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities, for Kankoku ni okeru "Kenishugiteki" Taisei no Seiritsu. 2015 – Yomiuri–Yoshino Sakuzo Prize, for Nikkan Rekishi Ninshiki Mondai to wa Nanika.

Selected works

Academic monographs

Chosen/Kankoku Nashonarizumu to "Shokoku" Ishiki: Chokokoku kara Kokumin Kokka e (Korean Nationalism and the Consciousness of a Small Nation: From Tributary State to Nation-State), Minerva Shobo, 2000.

Kankoku ni okeru "Kenishugiteki" Taisei no Seiritsu: Lee Syngman Seiken no Hokai made (The Formation of an Authoritarian Regime in South Korea: Until the Collapse of the Syngman Rhee Regime), Minerva Shobo, 2003. Chosen Hanto o Do Miru ka (How to Understand the Korean Peninsula), Shueisha, 2004. Koso, Minhi: Shikaraba Itashikata Nashi (King Gojong and Queen Min), Minerva Shobo, 2007. Minshuka no Kankoku Seiji: Park Chung-hee to Yato Seijikatachi, 1961–1979 (Democratization in South Korean Politics: Park Chung-hee and Opposition Politicians, 1961–1979), Nagoya University Press, 2008. Kankoku Gendaishi: Daitoryotachi no Eiko to Satetsu (Modern History of South Korea: The Glory and Frustration of Presidents), Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2008. Kindai Kankoku no Nashonarizumu (Modern Korean Nationalism), Nakanishiya Shuppan, 2009. Nikkan Rekishi Ninshiki Mondai to wa Nanika: Rekishi Kyokasho, Ianfu, Populism (What Is the Japan–South Korea Historical Perception Problem? History Textbooks, Comfort Women, and Populism), Minerva Shobo, 2014. The Burden of the Past: Problems of Historical Perception in Japan–Korea Relations, University of Michigan Press, 2019. Rekishi Ninshiki wa Do Katararete Kita ka (How Historical Perceptions Have Been Discussed), Chikura Shobo, 2020. Heisei Jidai no Nikkan Kankei (Japan–South Korea Relations in the Heisei Era), Minerva Shobo, 2020. Chun Doo-hwan, Minerva Shobo, 2024.

Books for general readers

Kankoku Aizo: Gekihen-suru Ringoku to Watashi no 30 Nen (Korea and I: Thirty Years with a Rapidly Changing Neighbor), Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2022. Gokai Shinai Tame no Nikkan Kankei Kogi (Lectures on Japan–South Korea Relations for Avoiding Misunderstanding), PHP Institute, 2022.

Kokuritsu Daigaku Kyoju no Oshigoto: Toaru Bukyokucho no Honne (The Work of a National University Professor: The Real Thoughts of a Department Head), Chikumashobo, 2025.

Edited and co-authored works

Minshuka to Nashonarizumu no Genchiten (Democratization and Nationalism in the Contemporary World), co-edited with Yoshifumi Tamada, Minerva Shobo, 2006. Posuto Kanryu no Media Shakaigaku (Media Sociology after the Korean Wave), co-edited with Saeko Ishita and Chie Yamanaka, Minerva Shobo, 2007. Populism, Democracy and Political Leadership, co-edited with Yukinori Shimada, Minerva Shobo, 2009. Tettei Kensho Kankokuron no Tsusetsu Zokusetsu (A Critical Examination of Common Views and Myths about Korea), co-authored with Yuki Asaba and Daisuke Sato, Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2012.

Selected English-language articles

"Why Did the Chosun Dynasty Fail to Modernize?: 'Modernization from Above' in Korea", Political Science in Asia, 2006. "Nationalistic Populism in Democratic Countries of East Asia", Journal of Korean Politics, 2007. "How Can We Cope with Historical Disputes? The Japanese and South Korean Experience", in Marie Söderberg, ed., Changing Power Relations in Northeast Asia, Routledge, 2010. "Discovery of Disputes: Collective Memories on Textbooks and Japanese–South Korean Relations", Journal of Korean Studies, 2012. "Discourses About Comfort Women in Japan, South Korea, and International Society", International Relations and Diplomacy, 2015. "Betraying Democratization?: Media Narratives, Mass Protest and Presidential Impeachment in South Korea", Journal of International Cooperation Studies, 2020.

"Japan-China 2008 Agreement: Common-Pool Resource Governance Problem", with Rafyoga Jehan Pratama Irsadanar, Jurnal Studi Pemerintahan, 2021. "The ideational implications of Japan–Indonesia maritime security cooperation: trust, capacity building, and shared values", with Rafyoga Jehan and Pratama Irsadanara, Asian Journal of Political Science, 2026.