Memories of the Japanese Empire: Comparison of the Colonial and Decolonisation Experiences in Taiwan and Nan'yo-gunto

This book explores how people in Taiwan and Nanyō Guntō - Micronesia - experienced colonial and decolonization under the Greater Japanese Empire. It compares the impact of Japanese rule and transplanted Japanese culture on the formation of historical awareness and cultural construction in these regions. The book offers valuable insights into the effects of empire and colonization on the historic imagination, particularly for historical anthropologists interested in Taiwan, Japan, and the Pacific.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The contributors to this book delve into a comparative examination of the colonial and decolonization experiences of individuals in Taiwan and Nanyō Guntō, Micronesia, who were subjected to rule by the Greater Japanese Empire. In the early days of anthropological theory in Western imperialist countries, there was a prevailing focus on the transformation of "savage" cultures through the imposition of high-handed governance. When Japan abruptly asserted its hegemony through swift colonization, its culture was often viewed as inferior to the civilizational standards previously encountered by the nations it governed. How did these ruled nations establish their cultural and historical consciousness in regions where Japan's civilizing mission lacked convincing strategic design?

Following the conclusion of World War II, numerous emerging countries in the Third World achieved independence through negotiations or armed struggles with their former colonial powers. However, after Japan's defeat, Taiwan and Nanyō Guntō came under the rule of new foreign governments. How did Japan's reign and transplanted Japanese culture impact the formation of historical awareness and cultural construction in the present-day communities of these two regions? This book offers a captivating ethnographic perspective on the enduring effects of empire and colonization on the historical imagination, holding significant appeal for historical anthropologists specializing in Taiwan, Japan, and the Pacific.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367677459