A Genealogy of Japanese Self-Images (Japanese Society Series) English Ed Edition

by Eiji Oguma (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-1876843045

ISBN-10: 1876843047

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This book presents a counter-argument to the widely held view that the Japanese have believed that they are a homogeneous nation since the Meiji period. Eiji Oguma demonstrates that the myth of ethnic homogeneity was not established during the Meiji period, nor during the Pacific War, but only after the end of the war. The study covers a large range of areas, including archaeology, ancient history, linguistics, anthropology, ethnology, folk law, eugenics and philosophy, to obtain an overview of how a variety of authors dealt with the theme of ethnicity. It also examines how this myth of homogeneity arose and how the peoples of such Japanese colonies as Korea and Taiwan were viewed in the pre-war literature on ethnic identity. This is the first English translation of A Genealogy of "Japanese" Self-Images, which won the Suntory Culture Award in 1996.

A Genealogy of Japanese Self-Images (Japanese Society Series)

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Product details

Series: Japanese Society Series
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Trans Pacific Press; English Ed edition (May 10, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1876843047
ISBN-13: 978-1876843045
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,032,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3068 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Asia
- #3086 in Books > History > Asia > Japan
- #7162 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Anthropology

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Academic reiview of Eiji's contribution to Japanese history / anthropology / studies

ByGloria Guyon February 22, 2012

Format: Paperback

Employing what he calls the "sociological method" (an overview based on influential academics, intellectuals and ideologues) - or what might be considered 'intellectual history' - rather than a detailed and precise "historical method" (one which ask for context, the thinker was from what village in which province and what a member of which social class and how did that person's ideas influence the people who encountered them), Eiji does a whirlwind tour of what seems like all prominent thinkers of the late 19th through the 20th century and what they wrote about the image of the Japanese nation. The book is divided into three parts, roughly following chronological developments: first the Meiji opening and modernizing, the Taisho and some early Showa growth of imperialism, finally Showa through WWII, the Occupation, and post-war insecurities and rapid economic growth as related to the rise of the myth of the homogeneous nation.
Part One covers roughly the Meiji period, up through the annexation of Korea and looks at debates related to opening Japan to the West, and the relationship between Korea and Japan - typically described as being one 'nissen dosoron'. Part Two explores the age of the Greater Japanese Empire and views of Japan as a mixed-nation (racially and culturally speaking) which generally 'peacefully' assimilated nations in the past, thus their mixed heritage gives the Japanese the right to colonize Taiwan, Korea, China, South Sea Islands, and later Manchuria/Manchukuo. Part Three maps most closely to the Showa era and explores Yanagita's folklore studies and shift post-Geneva visit to an argument of Japanese cultural and racial homogeneity. Chapter 13 covers the debates between mixed heritage and the eugenicists, whereas ch 14 addresses the ancient myths as non-factual not-historical records, but rather cultural records. In chapter 15, the transition in Watsuji Tetsuro's thinking from a homogeneous nation based on blood to a homogeneous nation based on climate 'Fudo' is explained. Next, the transition from 'multi-ethnic' nation as justification for imperialism to peaceful, isolate homogeneous nation (licking its wounds after the war). Finally, the conclusion argues that what both these myths (multi-racial / homogeneous) have in common is their functioning under the premises of the Japanese family 'ie' system, both argue for keeping the emperor (generally as a symbol), and that both are used to escape from present reality. Eiji concludes that rather than constructing a new myth, we need to move beyond myths with a "little strength and wisdom" (349).
Overall the book is an incredible introduction to the thinkers of a wide stretch of time - the entirety of the modern period is covered in relatively strong detail. Some chapters introduced figures I hadn't heard of before, whereas other built on existing debates, and others added new knowledge to topics I would have considered myself knowledgeable about (as a Japanese history graduate student).

The text is academic in nature, but easy to read and a great overview of the surprising development of the 'myth of a homogeneous nation' in the post-WWII period.

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