Anti-Japan: The Politics of Sentiment in Postcolonial East Asia

Although the Japanese empire rapidly dissolved following the end of World War II, the memories, mourning, and trauma of the nation's imperial exploits continue to haunt Korea, China, and Taiwan. In Anti-Japan Leo T. S. Ching traces the complex dynamics that shape persisting negative attitudes toward Japan throughout East Asia. Drawing on a mix of literature, film, testimonies, and popular culture, Ching shows how anti-Japanism stems from the failed efforts at decolonization and reconciliation, the Cold War and the ongoing U.S. military presence, and shifting geopolitical and economic conditions in the region. At the same time, pro-Japan sentiments in Taiwan reveal a Taiwanese desire to recoup that which was lost after the Japanese empire fell. Anti-Japanism, Ching contends, is less about Japan itself than it is about the real and imagined relationships between it and China, Korea, and Taiwan. Advocating for forms of healing that do not depend on state-based diplomacy, Ching suggests that reconciliation requires that Japan acknowledge and take responsibility for its imperial history.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments  ix Introduction. Anti-Japanism (and Pro-Japanism) in East Asia  1 1. When Bruce Lee Meets Gojira: Transimperial Characters, Anti-Japanism, Anti-Americanism, and the Failure of Decolonization  19 2. "Japanese Devils": The Conditions and Limits of Anti-Japanism in China  36 3. Shameful Bodies, Bodily Shame: "Comfort Women" and Anti-Japanism in South Korea  57 4. Colonial Nostalgia or Postcolonial Anxiety: The Dōsan Generation In-Between "Retrocession" and "Defeat"  80 5. "In the Name of Love": Critical Regionalism and Co-Viviality in Post-East Asia  98 6. Reconciliation Otherwise: Intimacy, Indigeneity, and the Taiwan Difference  115 Epilogue. From Anti-Japanism to Decolonizing Democracy: Youth Protests in East Asia  132 Notes  143 References  153 Index  161

About the Author :
Leo T. S. Ching is Associate Professor of Japanese and East Asian Cultural Studies at Duke University and author of Becoming "Japanese": Colonial Taiwan and the Politics of Identity Formation.

Review :
"Anti-Japan is a timely analysis of the complex relationships among countries in East Asia as the political and economic power relationship in the region is rapidly reconstructed." - Linda Wang (International Social Science Review) “This creative, thought-provoking, and deeply insightful book speaks to multiple cross-disciplinary audiences, including specialists and general readers in East Asian history, culture, and politics. It would also be of interest to anyone interested in memory, postcolonial studies, nationalism, and postconflict resolution and reconciliation.” - Seo-Hyun Park (Journal of Asian Studies) “Leo Ching’s book Anti-Japan is a timely and relevant addition to the discussions surrounding the recent developments in Northeast Asia.” - Joon Oh (China Report) “This thought-provoking book will help readers reevaluate and contextualize various literary works, films, testimonies, music videos, video games, and other aspects of popular culture.... [T]his book provokes readers to reevaluate issues related to historical reconciliation in East Asia.” - Takashi Yoshida (Journal of Japanese Studies) “What Ching’s book does to set it apart from what is a fairly crowded field is to situate his analysis across the disciplinary boundaries of cultural studies, postcolonial studies, and the burgeoning studies of affect and emotions.... This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book and deserves to be read widely.” - Caroline Rose (Pacific Affairs)