Ruoff, Kenneth J. (Kenneth James), 1966-

Imperial Japan at its zenith : the wartime celebration of the empire's 2,600th anniversary / Kenneth J. Ruoff.

Ithaca ; London : Cornell University Press, 2010.

xv, 236 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 25 cm.

Studies of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University

"In this deeply researched book Kenneth J. Ruoff offers an intriguing new perspective on wartime Japan. His sweeping survey of the cultural landscape in 1940 demonstrates the many ways, from song contests to colonial tourism, that cultural consumption sustained popular morale and support for the war effort on the Asian continent."ùPeter Duus, Stanford University.
In 1940, Japan was into its third year of war with China, and relations with the United States were deteriorating, but it was a heady time for the Japanese nonetheless. That year, the Japanese commemorated the 2,600th anniversary of the founding of the Empire of Japan. According to the imperial myth-history, Emperor Jimmu, descended from the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, established the "unbroken imperial line" in 660 BCE. In carefully choreographed ceremonies throughout the empire, through new public monuments, with visual culture, and through heritage tourism, the Japanese celebrated the extension of imperial rule under the 124th emperor, Hirohito
These celebrations, the climactic moment for the ideology that was central to modern Japan's identity until the imperial cult's legitimacy was bruised by defeat in 1945, are little known outside Japan. Imperial Japan at Its Zenith, the first book in English about the 2,600th anniversary, examines the themes of the celebration and what they tell us about Japan at mid-century. Kenneth J. Ruoff emphasizes that wartime Japan did not reject modernity in favor of nativist traditionalism. Instead, like Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, it embraced reactionary modernism. Ruoff also highlights the role played by the Japanese people in endorsing and promoting imperial ideology and expansion, documenting the significant grassroots support for the cult of the emperor and for militarism.
Ruoff uses the anniversary celebrations to examine Japan's invention of a national history; the complex relationship between the homeland and the colonies; the significance of Imperial Japan's challenge to Euro-American claims of racial and cultural superiority; the role of heritage tourism in inspiring national pride; Japan's wartime fascist modernity; and, with a chapter about overseas Japanese, the boundaries of the Japanese nation. Packed with intriguing anecdotes, incisive analysis, and revelatory illustrations, Imperial Japan at Its Zenith is a major contribution to our understanding of wartime Japan. --Book Jacket.

9780801448669 (cloth ; alk. paper)
0801448662 (cloth ; alk. paper)

Nationalism Japan History 20th century.
Nationalisme Japon Histoire 20e siècle.
Anniversaries
Historiography
Nationalism
Bildungstourismus
Geschichtsschreibung
Nationalfeiertag
Nationalism Japan 1900-talety.
Japan Centennial celebrations, etc.
Japan History 1926-1945.
Japan Historiography.
Japon Histoire 1926-1945.
Japan
Japan Anniversaries, etc.
Japan historia 1926-1945.
Japan jubiléer och bemärkelsedagar.

History

Studies of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University.

Location: Library main 278241
Call No.: BIB 213788
Status: Available