Technology of Empire: Telecommunications and Japanese Expansion in Asia, 1883-1945 (Harvard East Asian Monographs)

Nearly half a century ago, the economic historian Harold Innis pointed out that the geographical limits of empires were determined by communications and that, historically, advances in the technologies of transport and communications have enabled empires to grow. This power of communications was demonstrated when Japanese Emperor Hirohito's radio speech announcing Japan's surrender and the dissolution of its empire was broadcast simultaneously throughout not only the Japanese home islands but also all the territories under its control over the telecommunications system that had, in part, made that empire possible. In the extension of the Japanese empire in the 1930s and 1940s, technology, geo-strategy, and institutions were closely intertwined in empire building. The central argument of this study of the development of a communications network linking the far-flung parts of the Japanese imperium is that modern telecommunications not only served to connect these territories but, more important, made it possible for the Japanese to envision an integrated empire in Asia. Even as the imperial communications network served to foster integration and strengthened Japanese leadership and control, its creation and operation exacerbated long-standing tensions and created new conflicts within the government, the military, and society in general. Fifty Years Ago, The Economic Historian Harold Innis Pointed Out That The Geographical Limits Of Empires Were Determined By Communications And That Advances In The Technologies Of Transport And Communications Have Enabled Empires To Grow. The Power Of Communications Was Demonstrated When Japanese Emperor Hirohito's Announcement Of Japan's Surrender Was Broadcast Simultaneously Throughout Japan And All The Territories Under Its Control Over The Telecommunications System That Had, In Part, Made That Empire Possible. From The 1880s To The 1940s, Technology, Geo-strategy, And Institutions Were Closely Intertwined In Japan's Empire Building. The Central Argument Of This Study Of The Development Of A Communications Network Linking The Far-flung Parts Of The Japanese Imperium Is That Modern Telecommunications Not Only Connected These Territories But Made It Possible For The Japanese To Envision An Integrated Empire In Asia. But, Even As The Imperial Communications Network Fostered Integration And Strengthened Japanese Leadership And Control, Its Creation And Operation Often Exacerbated Long-standing Tensions And Created New Conflicts Within The Government, The Military, And Society In General. Telecommunications, Like Other Technologies, Never Operate In A Social Vacuum; They Are Always Embedded In Institutions And Serve Particular Purposes. Their Control Is Always Open To Contest. --book Jacket. Pt. I Genesis, 1853-1931 : An Emerging Empire In The Age Of Submarine Telegraphy -- Wireless And The Crisis In The Informal Empire -- Pt. Ii Technology, 1931-1940 : Toward A New Order On The Continent -- Inventing Japanese Technology -- Envisioning Imperial Integration -- Pt. Iii Control, 1936-1945 : Negotiating Control At Home -- Consolidating Control In China -- Gaining Control In Southeast Asia -- Pt. Iv Network, 1939-1945 : Systemic Integration -- Operation, Meltdown, And Aftermath. Daqing Yang. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Technology of Empire Telecommunications and Japanese Expansion in Asia, 1883–1945 3 Acknowledgments 7 Contents 9 Figures, Tables, Maps, and Photographs 11 Abbreviations 15 Epigraph Sources 19 Technology of Empire Telecommunications and Japanese Expansion in Asia, 1883–1945 21 Introduction 23 Part I: Genesis, 1853–1931 37 1. An Emerging Empire in the Age of Submarine Telegraphy 39 2. Wireless and the Crisis in the Informal Empire 78 Part II: Technology, 1931–1940 107 3. Toward a New Order on the Continent 109 4. Inventing Japanese Technology 144 5. Envisioning Imperial Integration 182 Part III: Control, 1936–1945 233 6. Negotiating Control at Home 235 7. Consolidating Control in China 268 8. Gaining Control in Southeast Asia 305 Part IV: Network, 1939–1945 341 9. Systemic Integration 343 10. Operation, Meltdown, and Aftermath 381 Conclusion 425 Reference Matter 435 Bibliography 437 Index 461 Harvard East Asian Monographs 473