In Close Association: Local Activist Networks in the Making of Japanese Modernity, 1868-1920

In Close Association examines the local networks of women and men in Okayama, Japan, who built modern Japan in the Meiji period (1868–1912). It highlights the activities of activists, Western Protestant missionaries, and the gradual differentiation of public activity by gender. The book emphasizes the interdependence of women and men and the importance of highlighting connections between people to explain historical change.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 26 August 2022
Publisher: Harvard University, Asia Center

In Close Association, Marnie Anderson delves into the intricate networks of women and men who played pivotal roles in shaping modern Japan during the Meiji period (1868–1912). Through vivid storytelling, she unveils the remarkable journey of a diverse group of activists based in Okayama, who established institutions, engaged in the Freedom and Peoples Rights Movement, promoted social reform, and championed "civilization and enlightenment." Alongside these activists were Western Protestant missionaries, intertwining their stories to create a captivating local and transnational narrative.

At the heart of this study, gender analysis takes center stage, offering fresh insights into the roles of women beyond the confines of the domestic sphere. Anderson also demonstrates how men's lives were intricately connected to their homes and kin, challenging traditional notions of masculinity. By employing a "history on the diagonal" approach, Anderson meticulously documents the gradual differentiation of public activities by gender in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Meiji-era associations evolved to become increasingly sex-specific, while heterosocial networks persisted until the twentieth century.

Anderson pays close attention to the archival record, recognizing its limitations in capturing the full depth of individual lives. She advocates for a holistic understanding of history, emphasizing the interconnectedness of women and men and the significance of highlighting their relationships in explaining historical change. Above all, this study sheds new light on how local personalities, working together, transformed Japan during a transformative period.

Weight: 422g
Dimension: 236 x 160 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674278257