About Japanese Modernity @ Substack

A forum about modern and contemporary Japan

Christopher Gerteis is the real-life human-in-the-loop: editor, writer, and currator of Japanese Modernity @ Substack. As a scholar of modern and contemporary Japan, Gerteis’ role is to ensure that all content aligns with the publication’s standards for accuracy, readability, and utility.

The newsletter is founded on the idea that readers are interested in how contemporary Japan navigates rapid societal change while maintaining its historical and cultural roots. Japanese Modernity @ Substack provides nuanced insights into the complexities of social transformation, economic adaptation, and the persistent tension between modernity and tradition in contemporary Japan.

Free subscribers receive access to a portion of most articles, and all of some, thus encouraging further exploration through full membership.

Paid subscribers gain full access to a growing archive of well-researched articles, allowing them to explore the connections between Japan’s modern from a richer, more informed perspective.

Paid members not only unlock the complete content archive but also become part of a community dedicated to a deeper understanding of how Japan’s past continues to shape its present and future.

Subscription fees are low. A percentage goes to Substack and anything extra will go towards improvements like pay for new authors, advertising on other social media, or perhaps a podcast. These things I am not yet certain about and will update you all if and when they develop.