The Boundaries of 'the Japanese': Volume 2: Korea, Taiwan and the Ainu 1868-1945 (Japanese Society Series)

In this the parallel volume to The Boundaries of 'the Japanese': Volume 1: Okinawa 1818-1972 (2014), renowned historical sociologist Eiji Oguma further explores the fluctuating political, geographical, ethnic, and sociocultural borders of 'Japan' and 'the Japanese' from the latter years of the Tokugawa shogunate to the mid-20th century. Focus is placed first upon the northern island of Hokkaido with its indigenous Ainu inhabitants, and then upon the mainstays of Japan's colonial empire-Taiwan and Korea. In continuing to elaborate his theme of inclusion and exclusion, the author comprehensively recounts and analyzes the events, actions, campaigns and attitudes of both the rulers and the ruled as Japan endeavoured both to be seen as a strong, civilized nation by the wider world, and to 'civilize' its disparate subjects on its own terms. "The dynamics of inclusion and exclusion have operated for centuries in the island chain that constitutes Japan's southernmost prefecture, Okinawa - otherwise known as the Ryukyu Islands. Are the people of Okinawa 'Japanese' or not 'Japanese'? Answers to this puzzling question are explored in this richly-detailed volume by one of Japan's foremost public intellectuals, historical sociologist Eiji Oguma. Here, the author addresses issues of Okinawan sovereignty and its people's changing historical, cultural and linguistic identity over more than 150 years until its 1972 reversion to Japanese control, following its administration by the United States from the end of the Pacific War." from the publisher's website Explores the fluctuating political, geographical, ethnic, and sociocultural borders of Japan and the Japanese from the latter years of the Tokugawa shogunate to the mid-20th century. Focus is placed first on the northern island of Hokkaido with its indigenous Ainu inhabitants, and then on the mainstays of Japan's colonial empire - Taiwan and Korea. In this the companion volume to The Boundaries of 'the Japanese': Volume 1: Okinawa 1818-1972, historical sociologist Eiji Oguma further explores the fluctuating political, geographical, ethnic, and sociocultural borders of Japan and the Japanese from the latter years of the Tokugawa shogunate to the mid-20th century.