Najita, Iriye (Irie), Kitagawa, Nambu (Nanbu)

The University of Chicago has had eminent professors who were either Japanese Americans or naturalized citizens born in Japan. Some non-academic activities of Professors Iriye, Najita, and Kitagawa are introduced here. For Professor Nambu, a glimpse into his thoughts of the 1950s is showcased.

Tetsuo Najita奈地田哲夫

Tetsuo Najita奈地田哲夫 (1936—2021) is a Japanese American originally from Hawaii who taught Japanese history at the University from 1969 to 2002. During his tenure he earned the title of Robert S. Ingersoll Distinguished Service Professor in History and East Asian Languages and Civilizations. In 2007 the Center for East Asian Studies established an annual lecture series in his honor.

Tetsuo Najita

University of Chicago Library, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center

Akira Iriye [Irie] 入江昭

Akira Iriye [Irie] 入江昭 (b. 1934) is a Japanese native who taught American history and international relations at the University from 1969 to 1989. In 2005 he retired from Harvard, and was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star by the Japanese government.

Akira Iriye

University of Chicago Library, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center

Joseph Mitsuo Kitagawa

Joseph Mitsuo Kitagawa (1915–1992) was a professor and dean of the Divinity School at the University. He was born in Japan, came to the United States in 1941, but was interned in Minidoka during World War II. After the war he came to the University of Chicago, earned his Ph.D. in 1951, and joined the faculty thereafter.

Joseph Mitsuo Kitagawa

University of Chicago Library, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center

Yōichirō Nambu [Nanbu] 南部陽一郎

Yōichirō Nambu [Nanbu] 南部陽一郎 (1921–2015) was a native of Japan who came to the United States as a physics professor after World War II. He started his tenure at the University in 1954. He is known for his contributions to theoretical physics, and was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2008.

Yōichirō Nambu

University of Chicago Library, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center