Collaborative Research
A Wars in the 20th Century Ⅱ
| Type of Research | Basic Research |
|---|---|
| Project Title | General Study of the 20th Century Ⅱ |
| Supervising Head of the Research Team | YASUDA Tsuneo |
| Research Title | A Wars in the 20th Century Ⅱ |
| Head of the Research Team | YASUDA Tsuneo |
| Research Period | 2007–2009 |
| Research Team |
|
| Purpose | The "memory and representation" group focused on a selection of materials and determined how they relate to their corresponding regions. Concerning photo materials in particular, the group established an analysis procedure that considered the photo techniques of the time. The "regional modernism" group chose a few regions as subjects and determined the general condition of the materials. The group also acquired a clearer view of the cultural situations of the time and used them to construct working hypotheses. The "Okinawa/South Sea" group reinvestigated and refined the results of discussion with respect to "memory and representation," which had became problematic in General Study of the 20th Century I. The group also looked to understand materials within the context of various cultural movements. |
2008
Progress
The group held four workshops. In Yamanashi Prefecture, it visited the Yamanashi Peace Museum and the Fuefuki City Kasugai Museum, while concurrently investigating Kofu and its surrounding areas. In Ishikawa Prefecture, the group conducted investigations of Kanazawa City and had workshops with personnel from the Ishikawa-Ken History Museum. Finally, in Okinawa, the group conducted investigations and visited "consolation facilities" on Ishigaki Island.
Result
As a result of the investigations of and workshops in Kanazawa, the group confirmed that the deployment of the 9th Division garnered important momentum for the city, in terms of becoming more modernized.
The deployment of the 9th Division, in tandem with the modernism of the Fourth Higher School, brought various influences to bear on the local community, including the development of commerce, the appearance of a culturati, and the development of various social movements. This kind of viewpoint—involving a study of the relationship between the military and a region—has long been overlooked in wartime studies. On the other hand, the deployment of the military division inevitably resulted in many war-related deaths; evidence thereof is found in the forms of ruins, cemeteries, and the like. Reflecting both the positive and negative influences of the deployment of the 9th Division, various facets of modern Japan can be found in Kanazawa City. For this reason, an investigation of Kanazawa presented various suggestions vis-à-vis study that considers modern times.
As a result of the investigation of Ishigaki Island, the group understood that the war in Yaeyama District is usually mentioned in connection with specific local occurrences, such as the spread of malaria; there are also close relationships, at the regional level, between the consolation facilities and temples found there. Concerning these findings, further investigation will be conducted within the context of consolation and contemporary religion.
2007
Result
The group held six workshops and performed fieldwork; it also reviewed and digitized the photo albums at the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum. At the same time, workshops were held to discuss the route taken by the Kofu regiment during the Sino-Japanese War, and further discussion will focus on the digitized material.
The group visited small-sized museums in Okinawa and determined an approach it should take in studying Okinawa in terms of contemporary history and in museum exhibitions.
Finally, the group also investigated materials on military affairs, which had been recently found in Shiga Prefecture. These materials formed the basis of the group's discussions on the relationships between the various regions and the military.
