ABSTRACT

The Routledge Handbook of Modern Japanese History is a concise overview of modern Japanese history from the middle of the nineteenth century until the end of the twentieth century. Written by a group of international historians, each an authority in his or her field, the book covers modern Japanese history in an accessible yet comprehensive manner. The subjects featured in the book range from the development of the political system and matters of international relations, to social and economic history and gender issues, to post-war discussions about modern Japan’s historical trajectory and its wartime past. Divided into thematic parts, the sections include:

  • Nation, empire and borders
  • Ideologies and the political system
  • Economy and society
  • Historical legacies and memory

Each chapter outlines important historiographical debates and controversies, summarizes the latest developments in the field, and identifies research topics that have not yet received sufficient scholarly attention. As such, the book will be useful to students and scholars of Japanese history, Asian history and Asian Studies.

part I|133 pages

Nation, empire, borders

chapter 2|12 pages

Alliances and enmities

Relations with Great Britain and Europe

chapter 3|22 pages

Japan and Asia

chapter 6|15 pages

Japan’s colonial empire

chapter 7|11 pages

Race and racism

part II|129 pages

Ideologies and the political system

chapter 10|10 pages

From Edo to Meiji

The public sphere and political criticism in nineteenth-century Japan

chapter 11|13 pages

State Shinto

chapter 13|15 pages

The military and politics

chapter 15|13 pages

The bureaucracy and politics

chapter 17|14 pages

Japan’s 1930s

Crisis, fascism, and social imperialism

chapter 18|13 pages

Japan’s war of words

World War II propaganda

part III|136 pages

Economy and society

chapter 20|16 pages

The yen: Japan’s national currency

chapter 23|10 pages

The emergence of trade unions

chapter 24|14 pages

The postwar employment system

chapter 26|15 pages

Religion in the postwar era

chapter 28|12 pages

Environmental history

part IV|54 pages

Historical legacies and memory