Pan-Asianism in Modern Japanese History

by Sven Saaler (Editor), J. Victor Koschmann (Editor)

Regionalism has played an increasingly important role in the changing international relations of East Asia in recent decades, with early signs of integration and growing regional cooperation. This in-depth volume analyzes various historical approaches to the construction of a regional order and a regional identity in East Asia. It explores the ideology of Pan-Asianism as a predecessor of contemporary Asian regionalism, which served as the basis for efforts at regional integration in East Asia, but also as a tool for legitimizing Japanese colonial rule. This mobilization of the Asian peoples occurred through a collective regional identity established from cohesive cultural factors such as language, religion, geography and race. In discussing Asian identity, the book succeeds in bringing historical perspective to bear on approaches to regional cooperation and integration, as well as analyzing various utilizations and manifestations of the pan-Asian ideology. Pan-Asianism in Modern Japanese History provides an illuminating and extensive account of the historical backgrounds of current debates surrounding Asian identity and essential information and analyses for anyone with an interest in history as well as Asian and Japanese studies.

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

The introduction (Chapter 1), chapter 13: The postwar intellectual's view of "Asia", and chapter 14: Overcoming colonialism at Bandung were especially good reads

[Benemint · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked Karangoa on Omotokyo, Kim on Miki Kiyoshi and Tanabe Hjime, and my favorite was Doak on the concept of ethnic nationality -- Just because he elaborated on what I was long curious about (i.e. what really was the conceptualization of ethnicity as opposed to race). Other chapters are ok.

[Hieyoon Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

very useful to conceptualize the pan-asianism 'IN' modern japanese history. And it also have two chapters in relation to genealogies of the topic which is very problematic.