A Cultural History of Postwar Japan: Rethinking Kasutori Society

This book explores the rise of kasutori culture in postwar Japan, rejecting samurai culture and the interwar debate on modernity. It depicts a short-lived radical cultural and social alternative that challenged traditional values and led to a decadent way of life. The book challenges Euro-American historical notions of Japanese Americanization and rethinks Westernization in the light of its global appropriation. It is aimed at specialists of Japanese or Asian history, as well as historians of the United States and readers from political and intellectual history, cultural studies, and historiography.

Format: Hardback
Length: 198 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the political and cultural history of early postwar Japan, exploring the profound shifts in perception and cultural values that accompanied the rise of the kasutori culture. This transformative process, intricately linked to the rejection of samurai culture and the ongoing debates on modernity during the interwar period, led to a decadent way of life exemplified by intellectuals like Sakaguchi Ango. Depicting a fleeting yet radical cultural and social alternative, it challenged individuals to reevaluate their relationships with kokutai (modernity), social roles, daily practices, and the production of knowledge. The subjective experiences and practices of those years played a crucial role in shaping the cultural identities of the Japanese, surpassing the influence of the nation's new public ideology. This work challenges prevailing Euro-American notions of Japan's Americanization, suggesting that the new private sphere emerged from within Japan rather than solely as a result of external influences. Furthermore, it offers a fresh perspective on Westernization by examining its global appropriation. While primarily aimed at specialists in Japanese or Asian history, this book will also captivate historians of the United States, as well as readers interested in political and intellectual history, cultural studies, and historiography in general.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032532059