The next meeting of the Japan History Group (JHG) at the Institute of Social Science (ISS), University of Tokyo, will be held on Friday, April 26, at 4:30 PM in Conference Room 1 (Dai-ichi
kaigishitsu) of
the Institute of Social Science main Building.

Presenter: Ti Ngo (Ph.D. Candidate, UC Barkley)

Title: 'Economic Development and the Aims of Empire in Japan's South Pacific Mandate,1919-1941'

Discussant: Yumiko Imaizumi (Professor, Hosei
University)

Abstract:
What accounts for the differences in the technologies and modes of rule across the Japanese empire? This paper examines Japan's South Pacific mandate as a case-study for understanding the logic of policymaking in the Japanese empire. In 1919, Japan acquired the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands as a League of Nations mandate. In 1920, Tezuka Toshiro, the director of the local administration, the South Seas Government (SSG) or Nany?ch?, sought to find ways to economically develop the islands. Tezuka and the SSG decided to invest heavily in the establishment of a sugar industry on the islands with a favored client company, the South Seas Development Company. By focusing on both the SSG's goals of making the islands productive along with its close collaboration with the South Seas Development Company, this paper argues that the goal of developing the productivity of the land in order to commercially expand into Southeast Asia ultimately shaped the creation of a unique set of policies in the mandate. This included plans to encourage Japanese immigration to the islands as well as a minimalist approach towards working with the native Micronesian population despite Japan's mandate responsibility of preparing Micronesians for future political independence. By focusing on the South Pacific mandate, this paper attempts to illuminate how larger geo-political aims for southward expansion while maintaining amicable relations with the international community led to a novel mode of rule during the 1920s, differing from older models of colonial governance in Taiwan and Korea.

4:30 P.M., Friday, 26 April 2013
University of Tokyo (Hongo Campus)
1st floor, Institute of Social Science Bldg.
Conference Room 1 (Dai-ichi kaigishitsu) For directions, please see:

http://jww.iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp/guide/

The JHG is a a forum for scholars to present their research on topics related to Japanese history and culture in a bilingual English/Japanese environment. In the interest of promoting dialogue, the forum will provide a discussant chosen for his/her familiarity with the theme or approach of the presenter's research.
The JHG is open to the public. For more information, please contact Naofumi Nakamura (naofumin[at]iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp).

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Dr. Naofumi NAKAMURA
Professor of Business History
Institute of Social Science,
The University of Tokyo
naofumin[at]iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp