Sidney Xu Lu, "The Making of Japanese Settler Colonialism" (Cambridge UP, 2019)
Jun 14, 2024
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Sidney Xu Lu discusses Malthusian expansionism in Japanese settler colonialism, challenging the division between settler colonialism and migration. The podcast explores overpopulation discourse, Japanese emigration history, Mausosian expansionism impact, settler colonialism structures, Japanese migration to Texas and Brazil, assimilation efforts, global migration shifts, and contemporary parallels with expansionist ideologies.
The concept of Malthusian expansionism justified Japanese settler colonialism and migration historically.
Japanese migration discourse was influenced by overpopulation beliefs, shaping economic policies and demographic ideologies.
Amid anti-Japanese sentiment in the US, Japanese migration shifted towards destinations like Brazil for settler colonial expansion.
Japanese immigrants diversified migration patterns to Northeast Asia, the South Seas, and Latin America amidst increasing North American restrictions.
Collaborative settler colonialism between Japan and Brazil represents a significant historical trajectory in Japanese migration history.
Deep dives
Key Feature 1: Establishment of an Improved Website
The podcast highlights the launch of a new website with enhanced features. Notably, the website now includes a more efficient search engine enabling users to quickly find episodes by using keywords. Additionally, listeners can create accounts to save episodes for later listening, facilitating the creation of personalized listening lists.
Key Feature 2: Discussion on Japanese Settler Colonialism
The podcast episode delves into the book 'The Making of Japanese Settler Colonialism' by Dr. Sidney Liu, published in 2019 by Cambridge. The book focuses on how the concept of Malthusian expansionism played a central role in Japanese settler colonialism in the Pacific region from 1868 to 1961. It challenges the traditional separation between settler colonialism and migration, demonstrating broader historical implications.
Key Feature 3: Exploration of Discourse on Overpopulation and Migration
Dr. Sidney Liu's discussion sheds light on the discourse surrounding overpopulation in Japan and its impact on migration. The talk reveals how historical Japanese thinkers and leaders attributed issues such as lack of farmland and job opportunities to overpopulation, advocating overseas migration as a solution. The discourse of overpopulation extended beyond migration and influenced various aspects of Japanese society, including economic policies and demographic ideologies.
Key Feature 4: Shift Towards Farmer Migration and Role of Brazil
The podcast outlines a shift towards farmer migration in Japan and its significance in the context of anti-Japanese sentiment in the US. With the US immigration ban in 1924, Japanese migration discourse shifted towards alternative destinations like Brazil. Brazil, depicted as a land of opportunities and resources, attracted a significant number of Japanese migrants, becoming a focal point for settler colonial expansion.
Key Feature 5: Evolution of Japanese Migration Strategies
The episode discusses the strategic response of Japanese migration to anti-Japanese sentiment in the US through diversified migration patterns. Japanese immigrants explored destinations in Northeast Asia, the South Seas, and Latin America as alternatives due to increasing restrictions in North America. These migration strategies embodied elements of settler colonial imperialism and Malthusian expansionism, shaping the historical trajectory of Japanese migration.
Current Research Focus: Brazilian-Japanese Collaboration
Dr. Sidney Liu previews his upcoming research focusing on the history of Japanese migration to Brazil. The new book explores collaborative settler colonialism between Japan and Brazil, highlighting the convergence of settler colonial histories in both nations. By examining the role of Japanese immigrants in the colonization of indigenous lands and their partnership with Japanese colonialism, the research sheds light on the complex dynamics of migration and community building in Brazil.
Contemporary Reflection on Mausosian Expansionism
Dr. Sidney Liu draws parallels between historical Mausosian expansionism and modern contexts, such as discussions around human exploration of outer space. By analyzing figures like Elon Musk and their discourse on population growth and colonization of Mars, he underscores the enduring logic of Mausosian expansionism in contemporary settler colonial narratives. The conversation highlights the continuity and relevance of historical migration ideologies in current discussions on expansion and resource utilization.
Future Research Prospects and Concluding Remarks
The podcast concludes with Dr. Sidney Liu's insights into future research directions and concluding remarks. He hints at upcoming work exploring Japanese-Brazilian collaboration and the intricate dynamics of settler colonial histories. The discussion emphasizes the evolving nature of migration discourses and their impact on global historical narratives, setting the stage for further explorations into collaborative settler colonialism.
Reflections on Historical Migration Patterns
Throughout the podcast episode, Dr. Sidney Liu provides in-depth insights into the historical nuances of Japanese migration patterns, highlighting the interplay between geopolitical shifts, anti-Japanese sentiment, and the search for new settlement frontiers. The narrative uncovers the underlying motivations behind migration strategies and the impact of global socio-political landscapes on Japanese settler colonialism. These reflections offer a comprehensive understanding of historical migration trajectories and their lasting implications on both Japanese and global histories.
Sidney Lu’s The Making of Japanese Settler Colonialism: Malthusianism and Trans-Pacific Migration, 1868-1961(Cambridge 2019) places the concept of “Malthusian expansionism” at the center of Japanese settler colonialism around the Pacific. For Japan’s imperial apologists and the discursive architecture they disseminated, alleged overpopulation―or more precisely, a critical imbalance between surplus population and insufficient land and resources―justified expansionism. Simultaneously, both population growth and expansion were signs of national power and prestige. From the colonization of Hokkaido to the realization of a “migration state” in the 1920s and into the postwar period, The Making of Japanese Settler Colonialism challenges the conceptual division between settler colonialism and migration, with implications beyond Japanese history.
