From Volcano to Icon: The Story of Mount Fuji with Historian Dr. Andrew Bernstein

Professor Andrew Bernstein, a distinguished historian specializing in Japanese and environmental history at Lewis & Clark College, shares key insights from his acclaimed book Fuji: A Mountain in the Making, a sweeping biography of Japan’s iconic mountain that traces its story from the Ice Age to the present. Dr. Bernstein’s conversation reveals Mount Fuji as an active historical agent rather than a scenic backdrop, shaping and being shaped by Japan’s geological, religious, political, economic, and cultural development. He traces how humans and Fuji have evolved in parallel over tens of thousands of years, as eruptions, settlement, industry, and imagination continuously redefined the mountain’s meaning. The discussion follows Fuji from a fearsome eruptive deity to a Buddhist sacred site, benevolent “cosmic parent,” Shinto-inflected symbol, and ultimately a modern national icon deployed in education, art, and state-building. Bernstein also highlights industries powered by Fuji’s waters, the environmental costs of paper production, and the ironic ecological byproducts of military use on its grasslands. Through legal battles over summit ownership and debates around its World Heritage designation, he argues that Fuji is a “bodiescape,” demonstrating how nature and culture are deeply and inseparably entangled. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: A. The background music used in this video is the property of its respective developer and is protected by Copyright. Although it is a free version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy and Deepak Bhatt do not hold the rights to this music. B. Professor Andrew Bernstein shared compelling insights from his acclaimed book Fuji: A Mountain in the Making during his conversation on the Business Talk podcast. The uploaded video contains copyrighted material; therefore, any modifications to graphics, music, or the presence of the author or host are strictly prohibited.