Review: Rethinking Modern Japanese History

Reviewed Work(s): The Making of Modern Japan by Marius B. Jansen: A Modern

History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present by Andrew Gordon: Re-
inventing Japan: Time, Space, Nation by Tessa Morris-Suzuki
Review by: Shunsuke Nakaoka
Source: Social Science Japan Journal , Apr., 2005, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Apr., 2005), pp. 125-129
Published by: Oxford University Press

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Social Science Japan Journal Vol. 8, No. I, pp 125-129 2005 doi: 10. 1093/ssjj/jyh045
Published online October 15, 2005

Rethinking Modern Japanese History

NAKAOKA Shunsuke

The Making of Modern Japan by Marius B. Jansen. Cambridge and London: The
of Harvard University Press, 2002, 944 pp., $35.00 (hardcover ISBN 0-674-003
$19.95 (paperback ISBN 0-674-00991-6)

A Modern History ofJapan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present by Andrew Gord
and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003, 400 pp., $27.95 (hardcover ISBN 0-19

Re-inventing Japan: Time, Space, Nation by Tessa Morris-Suzuki. Armonk and London: M
1998, 240 pp., $62.95 (hardback ISBN 0-7656-0081-1), $24.95 (paperback ISBN 0

Despite the progress in historical studies, it seems to be difficult for many Japa
researchers to present a comprehensive and broad perspective on the history of modern
is due not only to the characteristics of recent Japanese historical works, which te
specific themes and detailed analysis, but also to the many documents, references, and s
are necessary for describing modern Japan in the broader historical context-even if it s
particular aspect, such as politics, economy or society. These problems probably exp
why so many Japanese academics have given up writing a comprehensive survey of mod
history.
One particular example of a recent comprehensive survey of Japanese history is Amino Yoshihiko's
Nihon Shakai no Rekishi (1997). Amino, who was one of the most influential historians in postwar
Japan, wrote a concise yet extensive three-volume work on Japanese history. Amino begins his
description in ancient Japan and provides only a brief narrative of the period from the foundation
of the Tokugawa government to the present owing to limitations (as he admits in the final chapter
of his book) as a specialist of mediaeval Japan. In order to solve this problem, Japanese academics
often choose to collaborate with other academics to present a broader view of Japanese history.
These kinds of comprehensive historical works thus contribute diverse views on the history of Japan.
However, in many cases, these collaborations are also somewhat inconsistent with regard to narrative
and description, despite the efforts of their academic editors. Sometimes, their view of modern
Japanese history seems to be a fragmented collection of various knowledge and experiences on modern
Japan.
In contrast to the current situation in the Japanese academic world, several non-Japanese academics,
who are all specialists in Japanese history, have recently taken up the challenge of describing the
history of modern Japan in their own terms. The result is a broader and more long-term view of
modern Japanese history than that which Japanese academics have presented. These comprehensive
works signify the development and maturity of Japanese studies in foreign countries. Marius B. Jansen,

NAKAOKA Shunsuke is currently working as a Research Associate at the Institute of Social Sciences, University of Tokyo.
His main research interest is the formation of wealthy, business elite in modern Japan from a comparative perspective. He
can be contacted at the Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan,
or by e-mail at nakaoka@iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp

+ The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo. All rights reserved.

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126 NAKAOKA Shunsuke

who was one of the leading academic giants of Japanese studies in the US, recently
a lengthy opus (his final work) entitled The Making of Modern Japan. Jansen is known ev
Japanese historians, who have generally had little interest in historical works on Japan by
scholars. Jansen's text has an impressive time-scale, ranging from the establishment of th
government to contemporary Japan, and provides a comprehensive description of the pro
development of Japan. Another recent publication in this style is Andrew Gordon's
History offapan. Gordon is a highly noted US historian of Japan after Jansen's generation
known for his works on the labour relations of modern Japan. In addition, albeit slightly
from the former two books in terms of perspective and description, is Tessa Morris-
inventing Japan. The uniqueness of her approach in this book probably reflects her resear
works, such as Henkyd kara Nagameru: Ainuga Keiken Suru Kindai (2000) (recently p
Japanese and not yet available in English), which questions the concept of the modern stat
and the experience of modernity in Japan by focusing on the historical experience of the
Among these three books written on the history of modern Japan, Jansen's work takes
classical approach in its description and narrative. Some Japanese readers, including ac
possibly question why the book starts with the Battle of Sekigahara, since it is far from t
that most have of modern Japan. From the narrative presented in this book, Japanese his
Tokugawa to the present appears to be a linear and continuously progressive march toward
society. About half of Jansen's entire book is spent on a detailed description of the Tokug
while only one chapter is given to describing the postwar period, which seems to be of les
to the author. The content and style of the book reflects the classical approach to his
Much attention is focused on political change and culture. Other factors in more rece
studies, such as gender or mentality, are only minor interests for the author. In addition,
the narrative that forms the framework of this book takes a 'history from above' approach.
focusing on the perspective of the rulers and the broader political and economic cont
lower status in society assume only a minor position in the historical narrative. In gen
Jansen's effort to balance the factors of change and continuity, which created dynamism
history throughout this long-term period, and his attempt to place the Japanese historical e
a more global context, especially within East Asia, the whole of this book still has a relativ
dox view of Japanese history and society. Moreover, this book does not challenge the
of Japanese society as 'unified and homogeneous' and 'unchanged uniqueness'. In th
characteristic differentiates The Making ofModern Japan from the other two books discus
Nonetheless, Jansen's book comprehensively offers insights into the historical experienc
Japan from its author's own unique perspective. Pointing out problems in the book
way devalue the importance of this work. The long-term chronological analysis in this boo
a deep knowledge and understanding of Japanese history. Moreover, Jansen's book has
nificant merits in its interpretation of the events and changes in Japanese history. This i
apparent in his coverage of information about particular events, which are summarized an
not only from his perspective, but also from the perspective of recent historical research
Japanese sources. For example, his discussion of sakoku, the closed-country policy during th
era, is well balanced and easy to understand even for readers who have little knowledge of
history. Instead of emphasising the stereotypical image of sakoku from the perspective of
relations during the Tokugawa period, he points out that Japan during the Tokugaw
far from being totally isolated, since there was much absorption of slkills and knowl
the economic needs of the bakufu. Moreover, Jansen emphasizes that sakoku was the
which the Tokugawa government was able to exert 'control over its feudatories' (p. 95). In

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 Rethinking Modern Japanese History 127

his discussion also covers how this seclusion policy was evaluated in those days and how its image
has changed in modern and contemporary Japan. It is impressive that he was able to arrange this
discussion and its prerequisite knowledge within such a short chapter. Finally, Jansen's 'top-down'
perspective is effective to some extent, such as when he analyses changes and reforms during the
early Meiji period. The title of the chapter that examines the Restoration and the Meiji reforms, 'The
Meiji Revolution' (Chapter 11), indicates that the Restoration had an aspect of 'revolution from
above'. The author's comparison of this experience, in particular the process of centralization and
nation-state building, with those of other countries, especially Europe, helps the reader to understand
how the reforms throughout the Meiji period prepared the way for modern Japan (pp. 334-335).
Although the time period and chronological style of description resemble Jansen's work, Andrew
Gordon's A Modern History offapan is certainly different in its approach to modern Japanese history.
His attempt to avoid the somewhat stereotypical image of Japan, presumably one of the main
concepts of his book, is evident even from the front cover, which utilizes an illustration of a 1920s
record sleeve which strongly reflects the influence of abstract art during this period. In contrast,
Jansen's book utilizes a Hiroshige ukiyo-e of Edo scenery and Mt. Fuji, thus visually reflecting the
stereotypical image of Japan among foreigners. More significantly, the content of Gordon's book
differs greatly from Jansen's. The book is divided into four parts, with each part given equal weight
in the overall narrative. Still, much attention is focused on the period after the Meiji Restoration,
especially the era of so-called 'Imperial Japan'. Compared with Jansen, Gordon also places greater
importance on the history of postwar Japan. While the Tokugawa period is one of the main interests
of Jansen's book, it is briefly summarized in Gordon's book.
The points of discussion and subjects that Gordon chooses to describe about modern Japan also
make for a clear distinction with Jansen. Much attention is given to economics, cultural transformation,
social life, and gender. Gordon's book clearly sends the message that Japanese society is far from the
typical image of stability, harmony, and unchanging cultural values. This perspective is apparent, for
example, when he discusses how 'Westernization' reshaped indigenous Japanese culture-as in the
case of Noh or Kabuki-and reinvented 'tradition' as the essence of 'Japanese-ness' (pp. 108-109).
In this book, the term 'Japanese-ness' forms one of the key points in analysing modern Japanese
history, since the construction of 'Japanese-ness' in the social and cultural spheres, especially in the
Meiji period, undoubtedly played an important role in creating the notion of Japanese 'uniqueness',
utilized not only by foreigners but also by Japanese to explain either the success or failure of the
modern Japanese experience. Furthermore, Gordon's book rejects the description of modern Japanese
history as a linear and progressive trajectory. Instead of a harmonious and co-operative image, he
presents a more complex image of modern Japan: social inequality between rich and poor, social
instability and violent protests, the hardship of economic development, colonization and exploitation
of Asian countries, and the influx of Western culture and its backlash. In particular, Gordon's book
describes the rise of the labour movement as the product of poor, deteriorating working conditions,
and the growth of popular protests, which took the form of protests against government policy, but
usually resulted in violent suppression and the use of police force. These incidents indicate how
various social strata, either co-operative or antagonistic, created the dynamism and complexity which
characterized modern Japanese history. In contrast, Gordon also focuses on the compromise and
co-operation between the elite and people to cope with the diversity and tension caused by social
transformation and progress, which finally led to the collapse of democracy in the 1930s. By showing
how the prewar legacy connects to postwar development, he crafts a more complex and diversified
portrait of modern Japan. These descriptions of the role of social conflict and protest along with his
assessment of their limitations are an indispensable aspect of this book. Unlike Jansen's 'top-down'

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128 NAKAOKA Shunsuke

approach, Gordon's focus on the experiences of average Japanese, such as poor workers, fa
ethnic and social minorities, gives the narrative a greater sense of 'history from the botto
Gordon must be commended for dedicating a fair amount of space to describing the role o
and analysing popular culture. Numerous photographs and illustrations also make it ea
stand and more accessible to a general audience.
With regard to content and style of approach, Tessa Morris-Suzuki's Re-inventing Japan
different from the other two books. The form and description is not chronological. Instea
Suzuki takes a thematic approach to the history of modern Japan, explaining how Japan's
during the modern and contemporary period differ from the traditional image and narra
emphasize the homogeneity and immobility of modern Japanese society. The absence
logical description (including any detailed explanation of important political or histo
may discourage those readers who have not had any background in Japanese history. N
this book succeeds in questioning the cultural and thematic concepts that are used to
so-called 'uniqueness' of modern Japan and to separate the Japanese historical experiences f
of other countries. In this respect, the main aim of Morris-Suzuki's book is undou
challenge these social and cultural 'myths' more boldly than even Gordon's work.
Re-inventing Japan is centred on analysing eight concepts: Japan, nature, culture, r
civilization, globalization, and citizenship. By exploring these concepts in detail, M
persuasively displays how the concepts have evolved and have been elaborated as a fic
context of historical experience. For example, in the chapter on 'Japan', Morris-Suzuki dem
the ambiguity and vagueness of the definition of the territory and borders of Japa
intellectuals and researchers had thought an obvious or unchanged natural region. Sh
this vagueness through the experience of the Ryukuyan and Ainu. Both groups not on
ethnic minorities in Japan, but also reside on the periphery. Since they do not fit the geo
definition of Japan, their existence questions the nature of the Japanese nation as a result
experiences of redefinition, assimilation, discrimination, and self-recognition in modern Jap
each chapter constitutes an independent theme, it is clear that the theme of each chapter
to the others and thus contributes to her broader view of modern Japanese history. F
the 'Japan' chapter is strongly connected with the 'Race' chapter in the context of th
of ethnicity and the externalization of minorities, including the indigenous and colonial. I
the chapters 'Nature' and 'Culture' are interrelated, since both concepts were significant in
the image of the 'uniqueness' of Japanese society.
Although Morris-Suzuki's work takes the form of an historical book, she pays close
the social and intellectual trends of contemporary Japan. For example, the 'Gender' chapte
an analysis of the popular TV drama Oshin, which presents the life of its title role female
in the context of modern Japanese history, and coverage of the recent debates on 'comfor
In addition to describing the long-term changes and shifts in both globalization and citize
'Globalization' and 'Citizenship' chapters also cover recent objections and challenges f
ethnic minorities (particularly the Ainu in 'Globalization' and the issue of resident
'Citizenship') to the mental and social boundaries defining what it means to be Japanese. C
the unique narrative style and approach of this book help one to understand the nature of
society not only in historical perspective but also in terms of the present. This book draw
portrait of modern Japan as a continuously changing society which has been influenced by
and external social and intellectual pressures.
As discussed above, the three books differ with regard to their academic and analytic ap
style of description. There is a clear distinction between Jansen and Morris-Suzuki's work

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 Rethinking Modern Japanese History 129

approach to modern Japanese history: the former represents the classical style, focusing on historical
events and political trends, while the latter applies the theoretical perspectives of other academics
outside historical studies, such as Bourdieu, Balibar and Anderson. In contrast, Gordon's book seems
to takes a middle position in this case. If I were to recommend these three books as textbooks for
students of Japanese history, Jansen's work would probably be the most useful for understanding
modern Japan in general and in long-term perspective; Morris-Suzuki's book would help one to
consider how past historical experiences reflect on contemporary problems confronting Japan;
and Gordon's book would be beneficial for recognizing the social diversity and conformity of the
Japanese. However, all three books have a common intention and framework of discussion in their
attempt to describe and analyse the history of modern Japan as part of the broader historical
experience shared by other countries. The tools they utilize to shape this broader description of
modern Japan are based on a theoretical understanding of history, which has been largely neglected
by Japanese historians, since it has often been considered inapplicable to the 'uniqueness' of modern
Japan's experience. Moreover, all these historians attempt to place the Japanese historical experience
during the modern and contemporary period in a broader, global perspective, in particular with
other Asian countries. As a result, their works situate modern Japanese history within a global
historical context beyond the isolated and unique perspective of national history by emphasizing the
interrelated and mutual influences of historical experience. All these books not only represent the
progress and development of Japanese historical studies in non-Japanese countries, but also present
views on Japanese history that most Japanese academics do not recognize or have failed to describe.
In addition to the field of general history, many historical studies and works produced by numerous
non-Japanese researchers have provided new perspectives and a deeper understanding of Japanese
history. These contributions-mostly in English-are, however, mostly neglected by Japanese academics,
especially historians, since they have less interest in reading non-Japanese (or untranslated) works.
Nevertheless, as the work of Japanese academics gradually reaches its limits in terms of research
framework and perspective, the future of the historical studies in Japan will depend on how to collab-
orate and learn from the contributions of non-Japanese academics, either Western or Asian. These
three works indicate possible ways in which Japanese historical studies can perhaps be rethought.

References
Amino Yoshihiko. 1997. Nihon Shakai no Rekishi (A History of Japanese Society). 3 vols. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten
Morris-Suzuki, Tessa. 2000. Henkyii kara Nagameru: Ainuga Keiken Suru Kindai (View from the Periphery:
The Ainu Experience in Modern Japan). Tokyo: Misuzu Shobo.

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