The Study on Japan's Cultural Diplomacy during the World War II based on the Research about the Distributions of Japanese Books to Foreign Countries

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K00333
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02010:Japanese literature-related
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: Wada Atsuhiko 早稲田大学, 教育・総合科学学術院, 教授 (90283225)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 文化外交 / 書物流通 / 日本近代文学 / 読書

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I clarified the Japanese cultural propaganda during the World War II based on the study about the distribution of Japanese print culture to foreign countries in this research project. To be specific, I clarified the activities of actors who transferred, introduced, taught Japanese language and culture in the areas occupied by the Japanese army during this period. I located and studied the books and magazines in Japanese left behind after the war in Southeast Asian countries and verified how these materials had been used for Japan's cultural diplomacy. In addition, I shed light on the literary works and how they had been used in these activities.

Free Research Field

日本文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、日本の言語、文化の価値を海外に向けて発信していく営為が、戦時期において果たした役割を解明していった。この研究の意義は、アジア太平洋戦争において、日本が対外的に展開していった文化工作を、具体的に占領地で実践していった人や組織からとらえるところにある。日本文化の発信を、その発信者のみでとらえるのではなく、日本の書物を介して日本語や日本文化を占領地で教え、翻訳し、あるいは紹介する具体的な実践の中からとらえ、解明することが可能とな