Collaborative Research
B.Personal Experiences of War, 1931–1945: A Survey of Japanese Written and Oral Records
| Type of Research | Basic Research |
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| Project Title | General Study of the 20th Century |
| Supervising Head of the Research Team | YASUDA Tsuneo |
| Research Title | B.Personal Experiences of War, 1931–1945: A Survey of Japanese Written and Oral Records |
| Head of the Research Team | SEKIZAWA Mayumi |
| Research Period | 2004–2006 |
| Research Team |
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| Purpose | We will arrange the materials obtained in the report "Material Research on the Record of War Experiences and Narrations" 1–4 (published in 2004, 2005) from a survey of materials in the main building of the Museum, which was conducted in conjunction with research on the aging of people with war experiences. Through this arrangement, we will continue to consider how the information on war experiences was recorded and narrated in each period in the history after the end of the War reaching back almost 60 years, analyzing the written memories and the ways of expressing the narrated memories over the passage of time, and also on the problem of fading of memories of war experiences. |
2006
Progress
Workshop
We had three events: in April, September and March, and attended the NMJH international research conference "Memory of War Experiences and Narrations".
| First Workshop Date: April 15 (Saturday) and 16 (Sunday) Venue: The First Conference Room of the National Museum of Japanese History |
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Research Presentation
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| Second Workshop Date: September 9 (Saturday) and 10 (Sunday) Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
Mini–Symposium Theme1 :Problems related to the "Chukonhi War Memorial" and "The Chureito Pagoda"
Discussion |
Theme 2 :Problems with Narrations
Discussion Survey Report
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| Third Workshop Date: March 10 (Saturday) and 11 (Sunday) Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
Presentation on the content of the manuscript :"Research Report" posted by each researcher and an exchange of opinions Survey Report
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Survey
We conducted a survey in the north–eastern area of China (old Manchuria) from May 19 (Friday) to the 23 (Sunday). The main places visited were, Hill 203in the Lushunkou District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, the Higashi Keikanzan North Fort, the tDalian University of Foreign Language (Dalian Shrine Ruins), the Labor Park (Dalian Tower of Loyalty Ruins), the Liaoning Library, the Liaoning Museum, the Mukden Shrine Ruin, the Mukden Tower of Loyalty Ruins, the 9.18 Museum of History, etc.
We conducted a survey on Guam and Saipan in October 6 (Friday) – 10 (Tuesday). The main places visited were the Yigo South Pacific Memorial Park, Anderson Air Force Base, the Asan War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Banzai Cliff–Suicide Cliff, the American Memorial Park Visitor Center, the Nanko Shrine, the Saipan Shrine–Katori Shrine, the Tinian Suicide Cliff, the Hinode Shrine Ruins, the Tinian Shrine Ruins, the Saipan Atomic Bomb Shrine – Katori Shrine Ruin, etc. We exchanged research information with Professor Rubinstein at the University of Guam.
Republication of materials
Primary materials, having not yet been republished, 134 military letters, etc. by a soldier (from Sodeura village, Iwata district of Shizuoka prefecture, currently Iwata city of Shizuoka prefecture) involved in the Shanghai Incident , were republished as "Collection of Republished Documents" 3, with a title by Mr. Arakawa.
Result
Continuing the analysis of "A Survey on the Record of War Experiences and Narrations", and setting two topics "Problems on Memorials of Loyalty and Towers of Loyalty" and "Problems in Narration", with research presentations by cooperative researchers and discussions, we were able to share the results of the research. (Published as "A Collection of Reports and Abstracts of Discussions" 3, 143 pages). Also, for short periods of time, conducting field surveys on war–related facilities in old Manchuria, Guam and Saipan, we were able to confirm the current status of war memorial towers and shrines in foreign countries.
Continuing the republication work, ongoing since the first year, of primary materials which have not been republished yet, we published a "Collection of Republished Documents" 3 (Military letters, 117 pages, by a soldier sent during the Sino–Japanese war).
2005
Progress
Workshop
Workshops were held 5 times: in May, June, October, November and December. The main subjects of the research done this year were, (1) Presentations centering on the analysis of "Material Research on the Record of War Experiences and Narrations" 1–4, (2) Presentations based on concrete cases centering on the record of war experiences and narrations, (3) Confirmation of the research trends in each specialized field, etc. In addition, for the purpose of common use by cooperative researchers, we republished 3 primary source materials which had not yet been republished, but were recorded in the war period ("Journal of Shrines" by the Higashi Chikuma Education Committee, Material of Hachiman Shrine of Higashitada, Nishiyo City, Ehime Prefecture, Correspondences on the Shanghai Incident). Regarding the "Journal of Shrines" by the Higashi Chikuma Education Commitee, we finished the republication, giving it a title and a simple book binding, publishing it as "A Collection of Republished Documents 2" (March).
| First Workshop Date: May 21 (Sunday) and 22 (Saturday), 2005 Venue: The First Conference Room of the National Museum of Japanese History |
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| Second Workshop Date: June 25 (Saturday) and 26 (Sunday) Venue: The First Conference Room of the National Museum of Japanese History |
Introduction of Materials
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| Third Workshop Date: October 7 (Friday) Venue: Gakushikai–Bunkan |
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| Fourth Workshop Date: November 26 (Saturday) and 27 (Sunday) Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
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| Fifth Workshop Date: December 18 (Sunday) Venue: The First Conference Room of the National Museum of Japanese History |
We attended the International Research Conference "Narrations of War Experiences – Centering on the Views of Foreign Researchers – (A Case Study of Israel)" |
Result
(1) Continuing the analysis of "Material Research on the Record of War Experiences and Narrations", we were able to enhance the presentations (Memorial of the Victims of War and Memorial of Loyalty, the record of the victims of war, research trends in foreign countries, war and shrines, etc.) based on concrete materials centering on the record of war experiences and narrations. Furthermore, in studying the view points of foreign researchers, we were able to reconfirm the significance of our research by reviewing the past results with an objective perspective.
(2) We Published "Collection of Republished Documents" 2 ("Journal of Shrines" Higashi–Chikuma Education Committee, 459 pages).
2004
Progress
Workshop
Workshops were held 4 times: in May, September, October and January (The topics of the research presentation are as follows). The major topics of the research presentation done this year were, (1) Presentations centering on the analysis of "Material Research on the Record of War Experiences and Narrations" 1, 2, (2) Presentations based on concrete examples from the record of war experiences and narrations (descriptions of experiences of the atomic bombing and testimonies, pictures of the atomic explosion and interviews with Japanese and American soldiers, etc.), and (3) Confirmation of the research trends in each specialized field, etc. Also, we selected two articles identified by cooperative researchers as the best candidates, republished them, and put explanatory titles on them. Additionaly, each cooperative researcher carried out a survey of materials.
Result
(1) Regarding the analysis of "Material Research on the Record of War Experiences and Narrations", a presentation was given by Arakawa, Ito, Sekizawa and Iida this year. The chronological positioning of the individual war experiences according to the year of the person’s experience, and certain trends regarding the status of the publication of war experiences after the end of the War, etc. were also confirmed.
(2) For the purpose of common use by cooperative researchers, we republished two of the primary source materials which had not yet been republished, adding titles to them, and with simple book binding, published them as "A Collection of Republished Documents" in March.
| First Workshop Date: May 22 (Sunday) and 23 (Saturday), 2004 Venue: The Second Training Room of the National Museum of Japanese History |
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Introduction of the research done by each cooperative researcher |
| Second Workshop Date: September 25 (Saturday) and 26 (Sunday), 2004 Venue: The Second Training Room of the National Museum of Japanese History |
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| Third Workshop Date: October 9 (Saturday) and 11 (Monday), 2004 Venue: Hijiyama University |
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| Fourth Workshop Date: January 29 (Saturday) and 30 (Sunday), 2005 Venue: The First Conference Room of the National Museum of Japanese History |
Report of Documnets
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