Routledge Race and Migration in Imperial Japan - History Book

Explore the complex realities of Japanese identity in this academic study from the Routledge Japanese Studies Series. While many associate Japan with high levels of cultural and racial homogeneity, this book challenges those long-held assumptions found in political discourse and post-war scholarship. Author Michael Weiner provides a detailed analysis of racial discourse in Japan, tracking how these ideas have been articulated and re-articulated over the last century. The text examines these shifts against the backdrop of labor migration from the colonial periphery. By deconstructing the myth of a single Japanese race, the book offers a fresh perspective on the country's historical development. Beyond racial discourse, the work investigates the causes and consequences of colonial migration. This study moves past simple push factors to provide a deeper understanding of how movement shaped the nation. It is an essential resource for students and scholars interested in social and cultural history, migration patterns, and the evolution of Japanese identity.