Public Commentary & Scholarship

In the Media

The scholar Sugawara no Michizane in his youth - 887–897 CE., later deified posthumously - Tenjin - the kami of scholarship, learning, poetry, and the arts.

This page collects published commentary and media appearances by Edward Iftody, an independent researcher of early Japanese state formation, historical geography, and the political evolution of the imperial institution. He is based in Osaka.

Featured Publication

The Japan Times July 22, 2026

The Invention of Tradition: What the 2026 Imperial House Law Reveals About Historical Memory

An op-ed analyzing the first major revision to the Imperial House Law in nearly eight decades. The article examines how the modern prohibition on female monarchs emerged from Meiji-era legal reforms rather than ancient custom, and how the 2026 adoption pathway reflects long-standing elite strategies for fragmenting legitimacy during succession crises.

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Four archaeological sites. Three investigative tours to choose from. Choose the truth you want to uncover.

Walk with a historian who lives beside it. Small groups. Osaka Castle every morning. 10:00 AM • 2.5 Hours • English • ¥9,500/person

Before Japan had a Name Warrior Monks, a Peasant, and a Shogun A Lord, a Concubine, and a Shogun's Lie

Edward Iftody — Osaka Castle’s Resident Historian