Archive on Japan’s Evolving Role in Global Politics, Trade, and Military Affairs, 1937-1950s

Japanese Trade Expansion

Archive

[Japanese] [WWII] This archive of 3 publications on Japan spanning from 1937 to the 1950s offers a multifaceted examination of Japan’s evolving role in global politics, trade, and military affairs from the pre-World War II era through the early Cold War period. These works provide crucial contemporary analyses of Japanese imperialism, economic ambitions, and the socio-political consequences of U.S. military occupation. Archive includes the following:

[1] Amerasia: A Review of America and the Far East. New York. December, 1937. Pre-WWII issue explores political, economic, and social developments in East Asia, with a particular focus on the impact of Japanese expansionism and Chinese resistance including articles on Japan's anti-communist agreement with Germany leading up to the Second World War. Green staple-bound wrappers. 51 pages, 7" x 9". The first issue of Amerasia, a monthly magazine described as a "review of America and the Far East," was published in February of 1937. The periodical is describes itself as providing of a "forum for the expression and clarification of ideas concerning America's participation in Far Eastern affairs." Edited by leading scholars and analysts, the publication features contributions from prominent experts such as Karl August Wittfogel, Ch’ao-ting Chi, Nathan M. Becker, and Lawrence K. Rosinger. This issue of Amerasia offers valuable insight into the global discourse surrounding Japanese imperialism, Chinese economic strategies, and Western perceptions of the Far East during a crucial period of international tension. Some dog eared pages, minor wear throughout, binding is tight and pages and text are crisp and clear. Overall very good condition.

[2] Farley, Miriam S. The Problem of Japanese Trade Expansion in the Post-War Situation. New York: International Secretariat of the Institute of Pacific Relations. First edition, 1940. Red cloth board with gilt title on spine. 93 pages. 8vo. This 93 page essay examines Japan's economic strategies and ambitions for trade expansion following World War II. Authored by Miriam S. Farley, a research associate at the Institute of Pacific Relations since 1933 and later editor of Far Eastern Survey, the book offers insights into Japan's pursuit of economic growth and its implications for global trade dynamics. ​During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Japan's economy was rapidly industrializing, with manufacturing and mining accounting for over 30% of its GDP. This industrial growth was closely linked to Japan's military expansion and its quest for natural resources, leading to increased tensions with Western powers. Ex libris on front pastedown. Overall very good condition.

[3] Inside Japan. New York: Far East Reporter, 1950s. A critical perspective on postwar Japan, highlighting the challenges faced by its people under U.S. military occupation and the broader political landscape of the early Cold War era. Original pictorial wrappers. 21 pages. 8vo. Illustrated with a woodcut-style image of a wounded Japanese man on crutches. The contents document rising anti-war sentiment among Japanese citizens, particularly their resistance to further militarization and economic policies imposed by the U.S. government. Opening with the bold declaration, "We want neither to lead a miserable life any longer, nor to be dragged into another war," the text situates itself within Japan’s growing opposition to Cold War power struggles. It discusses mass protests, including demonstrations against the forced use of Japanese land for U.S. military bases, and details how economic hardship and environmental destruction—such as radiation-contaminated tuna from American hydrogen bomb tests in the Pacific—fueled widespread frustration among the Japanese population. The pamphlet argues that American occupation policies continued to erode Japan’s sovereignty, tying the nation to U.S. strategic interests rather than allowing for true postwar reconstruction on Japan’s terms.The text references significant events such as Japanese protests against military requisitions, including U.S. land seizures in areas like Uchinada, a fishing port repurposed for artillery training, and the selection of Japan as a maneuvering ground for Korean War operations. It critiques American soldiers' conduct abroad, arguing that local resentment stemmed not only from military presence but also from cultural insensitivity and racial hierarchies imposed by occupying forces. The pamphlet warns that American diplomacy in Japan was at risk of alienating the very people it sought to influence, portraying Japan as caught between U.S. and Soviet interests in the broader Cold War struggle. Overall very good condition.

Item #21571

Price: $225.00