Born in New York City and raised in Philadelphia, Ben Karp holds degrees in English, history and African American Studies from Goucher College and from Yale University.

In Japan since 2002, Ben has published articles and been quoted in The Asahi Shimbun/International Herald Tribune, The Algemeiner, New York Times, Washington Post, The Jewish Forward, and The Daily Beast. Ben has taught a range of courses at Temple University, Japan Campus where he regularly guest lectures.

Ben Karp is the CEO of Miryo Education and a Visiting Researcher at Waseda University.