ABSTRACT
This chapter places Japan in a framework that transcends the narrow confines of the national framework which views modern history as a combination of domestic affairs and international relations. It argues that the privileging of the nation obscures the presence of a large number of people, such as refugees and migrants, who are not recognized as legitimate residents or citizens. Nationality, it points out, is only one of many aspects that define individual human beings. Religion is another one, as are age, gender, race, ethnicity, health conditions, education, and many other factors that relate to the use of energy. These other categories, the chapter stresses, must be considered to understand correctly the evolution of the world and Japan since 1850.
