Tessa Morris-Suzuki is an award-winning historian and author specializing in Japanese history and Northeast Asian studies. She has published over a dozen academic works, including "East Asia Beyond the History Wars," co-authored with Morris Low, Leonid Petrov, and Timothy Y. Tsu, and "Borderline Japan." Her more recent scholarly contributions include "Japan's Living Politics" (2020) and "On the Frontiers of History" (2020). In addition to her academic writing, she has ventured into historical fiction with two crime novels: "The Searcher," set in 19th-century London, and "The Lantern Boats," which explores postwar occupied Japan.
Born in England and raised in both the UK and the Netherlands, Morris-Suzuki later lived in Japan before settling in Australia, where she became Emeritus Professor of Japanese History at the Australian National University. Her work often reflects her deep engagement with Northeast Asia, particularly Japan, Korea, and Sakhalin. Combining rigorous historical research with narrative flair, her writing spans genres from academic analysis to immersive historical fiction.
A recipient of the 2013 Fukuoka Prize, Morris-Suzuki continues to contribute to both scholarly and literary fields. She divides her time between coastal New South Wales and Canberra, pursuing her passions for travel, writing, and outdoor activities such as kayaking and snorkeling. Her multifaceted career demonstrates a commitment to exploring the intersections of history, culture, and storytelling.