Transnational Women's Activism : The United States, Japan, and Japanese Immigrant Communities in California, 1859-1920

Following landmark trade agreements between Japan and the United States in the 1850s, Tokyo began importing a unique American commodity: Western social activism. As Japan sought to secure its future as a commercial power and American women pursued avenues of political expression, Protestant church-women and, later, members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) traveled to the Asian coast to promote Christian teachings and women's social activism. Rumi Yasutake reveals in Transnational Women's Activism that the resulting American, Japanese, and first generation Japanese-American women's movements came to affect more than alcohol or even religion. While the WCTU employed the language of evangelism and Victorian family values, its members were tactfully expedient in accommodating their traditional causes to suffrage and other feminist goals, in addition to the various political currents flowing through Japan and the United States at the turn of the nineteenth century. Exploring such issues as gender struggles in the American Protestant church and bourgeois Japanese women's attitudes towards the'pleasure class'of geishas and prostitutes, Yasutake illuminates the motivations and experiences of American missionaries, U.S. WCTU workers, and their Japanese protégés. The diverse machinations of WCTU activism offer a compelling lesson in the complexities of cultural imperialism. Following Landmark Trade Agreements Between Japan And The United States In The 1850s, Tokyo Began Importing A Unique American Commodity: Western Social Activism. As Japan Sought To Secure Its Future As A Commercial Power And American Women Pursued Avenues Of Political Expression, Protestant Churchwomen And, Later, Members Of The Women's Christian Temperance Union (wctu), Traveled To The Asian Coast To Promote Christian Teachings And Women's Social Activism. Rumi Yautake Reveals In Transnational Women's Activism That The Resulting American, Japanese, And First Generation Japanese-american Women's Movements Came To Affect More Than Alcohol Or Even Religion. While The Wctu Employed The Language Of Evangelism And Victorian Family Values, Its Members Were Tactfully Expedient In Accommodating Their Traditional Causes To Suffrage And Other Feminist Goals, In Addition To The Various Political Currents Flowing Through Japan And The United States At The Turn Of The Twentieth Century. Exploring Such Issues As Gender Struggles In The American Protestant Church And Bourgeois Japanese Women's Attitudes Towards The Pleasure Class Of Geishas And Prostitutes, Yasutake Illuminates The Motivations And Experiences Of American Missionaries, U.s. Wctu Workers, And Their Japanese Proteges. The Diverse Machinations Of Wctu Activism Offer A Compelling Lesson In The Complexities Of Cultural Imperialism.--book Jacket. Tilling The Ground -- Sprouting Feminist Consciousness -- Managing Wctu Activism In The Japanese Way In Late Meiji Japan -- Beyond Japan To California. Rumi Yasutake. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 141-178) And Index. Following landmark trade agreements between Japan and the United States in the 1850s, Tokyo began importing a unique American commodity: Western social activism. As Japan sought to secure its future as a commercial power and American women pursued avenues of political expression, Protestant churchwomen and, later, members of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), traveled to the Asian coast to promote Christian teachings and women's social activism. Rumi Yasutake reveals in Transnational Women's Activism that the resulting American, Japanese, and first generation Japanese-American women's movements came to affect more than alcohol or even religion. While the WCTU employed the language of evangelism and Victorian family values, its members were tactfully expedient in accommodating their traditional causes to suffrage and other feminist goals, in addition to the various political currents flowing through Japan and the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. Exploring such issues as gender struggles in the American Protestant church and bourgeois Japanese women's attitudes towards the "pleasure class" of geishas and prostitutes, Yasutake illuminates the motivations and experiences of American missionaries, U.S. WCTU workers, and their Japanese proteges. The diverse machinations of WCTU activism offer a compelling lesson in the complexities of cultural imperialism. Following landmark trade agreements between Japan and the United States in the 1850s, Tokyo began importing a unique American Western social activism. As Japan sought to secure its future as a commercial power and American women pursued avenues of political expression, Protestant church-women and, later, members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) traveled to the Asian coast to promote Christian teachings and women's social activism. Rumi Yasutake reveals in Transnational Women's Activism that the resulting American, Japanese, and first generation Japanese-American women's movements came to affect more than alcohol or even religion. While the WCTU employed the language of evangelism and Victorian family values, its members were tactfully expedient in accommodating their traditional causes to suffrage and other feminist goals, in addition to the various political currents flowing through Japan and the United States at the turn of the nineteenth century. Exploring such issues as gender struggles in the American Protestant church and bourgeois Japanese women's attitudes towards the "pleasure class" of geishas and prostitutes, Yasutake illuminates the motivations and experiences of American missionaries, U.S. WCTU workers, and their Japanese protgs. The diverse machinations of WCTU activism offer a compelling lesson in the complexities of cultural imperialism.