Professor Emeritus of History James L. Huffman

Listen to Professor Huffman describe this travel experience in his own words.

Professor Emeritus of History James L. Huffman taught at Wittenberg for 26 years in his specialized area of study – the history of Japan’s Meiji era. His interests in the themes of journalism and media in Japan, Japanese Imperialism and people’s history of Japan has never waivered.

During his tenure at Wittenberg, Huffman received three Fulbright Awards, the most recent of those, a Fulbright-Hays Grant, he used to conduct research in Japan from January through July 2006. His teaching honors include the Ohio Academy of History’s Distinguished Teaching Award and Wittenberg’s most prestigious faculty honor, the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. Huffman was awarded honorary alumnus status in 2006.

The author of five books including A Yankee in Meiji Japan and Japan: A History in Documents, Huffman has also published articles in both Newsweek and The New York Times.

A native of South Bend, Ind., he completed his undergraduate degree at Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan). Huffman earned an M.S.J. at Northwestern University and an M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. Huffman’s involvement in education has included both his commitment to Wittenberg students and the education of area youth through his service on the Springfield City Board of Education.
Huffman continues to spend time on new research and writing, and he plans to become more of an activist.