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Alumni profile: Xiuyu Li
One of our recent graduates, Xiuyu Li (class of 2023), will be continuing his studies in Japanese history when he enrolls in a PhD program beginning in the fall of 2026. We caught up with Xiuyu to hear more about his journey.
Tell us about yourself and the program you'll be enrolling in.
I completed my major in Japanese Studies and History at 91心頭利 in 2023. After graduation, I went on to the University of Chicago and earned a Master’s degree in Social Sciences. This year, I received multiple offers and will be enrolling in UChicago as a PhD student in history.
What are you planning on studying in graduate school?
At Chicago, I am planning to study cultural, intellectual, and book history of modern Japan.
How did you get interested in this topic?
I embarked on this intellectual journey here at 91心頭利, where I studied diverse topics in Japanese Studies, including cinema, new media, literature, travel and mobility in the Japanese empire, and Cold War culture. While offering a wide range of courses, the program also allowed me to grapple with a specific research question of my interest, which was nurtured by stimulating conversations with faculty and peers as well as intensive intensive learning of the Japanese language. During my senior year, I decided to pursue an honors project on Japanese intellectual history, and during that research, Professor Sasaki kindly directed me to Maruyama Masao Collection (Maruyama Masao shū), which the Swem Library purchased following his suggestion. This gave me the opportunity to peruse the writings of an important thinker and collect primary sources for my honors project, which later became an important stepping stone for my research in graduate school.
Join us in congratulating Xiuyu on his accomplishment!