Japanese Assimilation Policies in Colonial Korea, 1910-1945
(Korean Studies of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies)
by Mark E. Caprio (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
From the late nineteenth century, Japan sought to incorporate the Korean Peninsula into its expanding empire. Japan took control of Korea in 1910 and ruled it until the end of World War II. During this colonial period, Japan advertised as a national goal the assimilation of Koreans into the Japanese state. It never achieved that goal. Mark Caprio here examines why Japan's assimilation efforts failed. Utilizing government documents, personal travel accounts, diaries, newspapers, and works of fiction, he uncovers plenty of evidence for the potential for assimilation but very few practical initiatives to implement the policy.
Japan's early history of colonial rule included tactics used with peoples such as the Ainu and Ryukyuan that tended more toward obliterating those cultures than to incorporating the people as equal Japanese citizens. Following the annexation of Taiwan in 1895, Japanese policymakers turned to European imperialist models, especially those of France and England, in developing strengthening its plan for assimilation policies. But, although Japanese used rhetoric that embraced assimilation, Japanese people themselves, from the top levels of government down, considered Koreans inferior and gave them few political rights. Segregation was built into everyday life. Japanese maintained separate communities in Korea, children were schooled in two separate and unequal systems, there was relatively limited intermarriage, and prejudice was ingrained. Under these circumstances, many Koreans resisted assimilation. By not actively promoting Korean-Japanese integration on the ground, Japan's rhetoric of assimilation remained just that.
Editorial Reviews
"The significance of addressing Japanese colonial rule in Korea in a broader comparative context cannot be exaggerated. Caprio had made a perceptive, innovative, and welcome contribution to expanding the scope of Japanese, Korean, and colonial studies."―Marie Seong-Hak Kim, Journal of Japanese Studies, 37:2 2011
"His main purpose is to show, first how the colonial rulers of Korea tried to manage the Korean population with political, social, cultural, and linguistic approaches filled with enormous internal contradictions and sophistry. His second purpose is to show how segments of Korean society collaborated with Japanese designs. . . . Caprio has fleshed out the theme of assimilation with rich detail and nuance and thrown a fresh light on the complex nature of Japanese rule in Korea and its limitations. . ."―American Historical Review
"Mark Caprio's Japanese Assimilation Policies in Colonial Korea is an illuminating account…. The crux of Caprio's work is that Japan, like other colonial regimes, made hollow promises related to assimilation for rhetorical ends rather than as a political or social goal…. Japanese Assimilation Policies in Colonial Korea makes a twofold contribution to Korean and Japanese studies, as well as the more general field of colonial studies by first providing the global context for Japan's colonization of Korea and, second, examining the debate among Japanese in the public sphere regarding the assimilation of Korea. It is a worthwhile and quick read that I highly recommend."―Korean Studies
"Mark Caprio's recent book is a wonderful addition to the field of Korean and Japanese modern history. Its appearance is particularly timely as Japan and Korea ponder the meaning of the centennial anniversary of the 1910 annexation."―The Journal of Asian Studies
"For many years, the Japanese Empire remained hidden behind an island-centered story of the archipelago's 'modernization' and a Euro-centric bias in colonial studies. This can no longer be the case with the publication of Mark E. Caprio's new book."―Pacific Affairs
"Caprio argues that, despite the Japanese championing of full acceptance and equality of the Korean people as subjects of the Empire, Japanese policies towards the Koreans worked as contradictory roadblocks preventing complete assimilation. . . . Caprio examines his historical question through an intricate framework of definitions of colonization. . . Additionally, his organizational choice of beginning his work with an examination of European influences on Japanese colonial thought is both interesting and appropriate considering Japan's desire to emulate the West. . . . Ultimately, Caprio delivers an impressive, solidly researched work that adds a further dimension to the complex historical problem of Japanese expansion. ."―Journal of Military History
"Mark Caprio, as an American scholar of Korean history teaching at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, is uniquely qualified to avoid the nationalistic extremes of the debate over the right and wrong, and the impact, of Japanese colonial rule. Using both Korean and Japanese sources, and an impartial eye, he examines one aspect of the colonial period, Japan's official policy of welcoming the Korean people into the Japanese political and cultural community, and he comes up with some startling conclusions."―Monumenta Nipponica
"There is no other publication in the English language that comes close to what Mark Caprio has achieved. His book will become required reading for anyone who wants to learn about Korea's experience under Japanese colonialism."―James Palais, University of Washington
"The most original aspect of this study is the author's effort to place the Japanese policy of assimilation in a broad comparative context. What becomes abundantly clear from this comparison is that assimilation rarely works at all, and even when pursued with some vigor by a colonial regime at first it is eventually abandoned or profoundly altered….The book also presents many new materials―- debates in the press, the views of prominent intellectual and political figures, policy documents―that will be of great interest, and often great fascination, to students of modern Japanese and Korean history."―Peter Duus, emeritus professor, Stanford University
"An exceedingly well―researched and insightful work on an important topic. It will make a strong contribution to the field of Korean studies and, because of its comparative scope, will also be important to historians and students of modern Japan."―Michael Robinson, Indiana University
Review
There is no other publication in the English language that comes close to what Mark Caprio has achieved. His book will become required reading for anyone who wants to learn about Korea's experience under Japanese colonialism.
(James Palais, University of Washington)
The most original aspect of this study is the author's effort to place the Japanese policy of assimilation in a broad comparative context. What becomes abundantly clear from this comparison is that assimilation rarely works at all, and even when pursued with some vigor by a colonial regime at first it is eventually abandoned or profoundly altered?.The book also presents many new materials?- debates in the press, the views of prominent intellectual and political figures, policy documents?that will be of great interest, and often great fascination, to students of modern Japanese and Korean history.
(Peter Duus, emeritus professor, Stanford University)
An exceedingly well?researched and insightful work on an important topic. It will make a strong contribution to the field of Korean studies and, because of its comparative scope, will also be important to historians and students of modern Japan.
(Michael Robinson, Indiana University)
Review
"The significance of addressing Japanese colonial rule in Korea in a broader comparative context cannot be exaggerated. Caprio had made a perceptive, innovative, and welcome contribution to expanding the scope of Japanese, Korean, and colonial studies."―Marie Seong-Hak Kim, Journal of Japanese Studies, 37:2 2011
"His main purpose is to show, first how the colonial rulers of Korea tried to manage the Korean population with political, social, cultural, and linguistic approaches filled with enormous internal contradictions and sophistry. His second purpose is to show how segments of Korean society collaborated with Japanese designs. . . . Caprio has fleshed out the theme of assimilation with rich detail and nuance and thrown a fresh light on the complex nature of Japanese rule in Korea and its limitations. . ."―American Historical Review
"Mark Caprio's Japanese Assimilation Policies in Colonial Korea is an illuminating account…. The crux of Caprio's work is that Japan, like other colonial regimes, made hollow promises related to assimilation for rhetorical ends rather than as a political or social goal…. Japanese Assimilation Policies in Colonial Korea makes a twofold contribution to Korean and Japanese studies, as well as the more general field of colonial studies by first providing the global context for Japan's colonization of Korea and, second, examining the debate among Japanese in the public sphere regarding the assimilation of Korea. It is a worthwhile and quick read that I highly recommend."―Korean Studies
"Mark Caprio's recent book is a wonderful addition to the field of Korean and Japanese modern history. Its appearance is particularly timely as Japan and Korea ponder the meaning of the centennial anniversary of the 1910 annexation."―The Journal of Asian Studies
"For many years, the Japanese Empire remained hidden behind an island-centered story of the archipelago's 'modernization' and a Euro-centric bias in colonial studies. This can no longer be the case with the publication of Mark E. Caprio's new book."―Pacific Affairs
"Caprio argues that, despite the Japanese championing of full acceptance and equality of the Korean people as subjects of the Empire, Japanese policies towards the Koreans worked as contradictory roadblocks preventing complete assimilation. . . . Caprio examines his historical question through an intricate framework of definitions of colonization. . . Additionally, his organizational choice of beginning his work with an examination of European influences on Japanese colonial thought is both interesting and appropriate considering Japan's desire to emulate the West. . . . Ultimately, Caprio delivers an impressive, solidly researched work that adds a further dimension to the complex historical problem of Japanese expansion. ."―Journal of Military History
"Mark Caprio, as an American scholar of Korean history teaching at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, is uniquely qualified to avoid the nationalistic extremes of the debate over the right and wrong, and the impact, of Japanese colonial rule. Using both Korean and Japanese sources, and an impartial eye, he examines one aspect of the colonial period, Japan's official policy of welcoming the Korean people into the Japanese political and cultural community, and he comes up with some startling conclusions."―Monumenta Nipponica
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From the Publisher
Mark E. Caprio is a professor in the Department of Intercultural Communications, Rikkyo University, Tokyo.
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Publisher : University of Washington Press (September 17, 2009)
Language : English
Paperback : 320 pages
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Customer Reviews: 3.9 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
Customer reviews
3.9 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States
EdM.
4.0 out of 5 stars The Colonial Policies
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
The author does a very good job detailing the assimilation policies of Japan towards its colony of Korea. However, the topic only starts at page 80, as after the intro two chapters focus is on comparative policies of Western countries and on Japan's policies on the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan.
The educational system of Korea was modernized along Japanese lines and societal values were altered to reflect the inclusion of the populace into the Japanese Empire. Both pro-Japanese and nationalist reactions are given as counterpoints. The majority of the population during the Japanese period seem to have been apathetic either way according to the statistics given with a minority of malcontents causing trouble for both sides.
The narrative unfortunately is cut short in the late thirties. One page very briefly describes the alterations to the assimilation policies such as the attempt to phase out the Korean language in schools, the name-change policy, and conscription into the military.
This period (1936-1945) saw radical changes in Korean policy and should have been included. (Thus the four star rating) However, the material that is here seems to be well researched and is very interesting to read.
Given that this time period and place can be highly political, the author presents the facts as interpreted by him and does not "choose sides". Other accounts often fail in this regard. The assimilation policies were not much different from Western attempts at imperial expansion and control.
Recommend for Japanese or Korean studies. 212 pages.
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4 people found this helpful
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Susie Y.
1.0 out of 5 stars Poor scholarly research, numerous typos, pedantic writing
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2016
Verified Purchase
Poor scholarship. It is only because there is a dearth of academic research and writing on this niche topic of the Japanese colonial rule of Korea that this book was even published. I sat down and read it eager to learn of the subject matter listed on the title - and I am not stupid, I have a PhD from a world renowned university - only to be sadly disappointed by the poor quality of scholarship, the numerous typos and pompous sentences that attempt to sound academic but only reveal that there is no real information being conveyed. It honestly reads like a thesis from a floundering and clueless student NOT the serious work of an esteemed member of academia.
You could get yourself through a page of confusing gibberish (peppered with "university words" in order to give the veneer of legitimacy) and suddenly realize there was nothing you just learned.
On top of that, the book is not even engagingly written, the style is pedantic. It's almost like he had to write this book to fulfill a grant or some other mundane purpose other than a genuine interest and passion for this subject matter...
I was not surprised at all to learn that this "book" is actually a dressed up thesis submitted by the author for his PhD.
I can't believe this was published as an independent book of research. Trust me, you will not be able to finish this book because of despair and frustration. I regularly read academic historical books and this one was very disappointing, complete waste of money.
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安楽山人
4.0 out of 5 stars 日本の朝鮮同化政策をイングランドの事例等と比較研究した本
Reviewed in Japan on December 29, 2019
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○隣接国の併合・同化は、日本と朝鮮の他にも数多くみられる。日本自身も、琉球、九州、東北で経験している。EnglandのWalesやScotland、Ireland等の例もある。これらの例と比較して、なぜ日本の朝鮮同化政策は完成しなかったかを比較分析した面白い本。
同化政策の巧拙を論じており、正当性や善悪は議論していない。
○著者によれば、時間が36年で終わったことも要因ではある（日本側は当初から１００年はかかると思っていた）が、日本人の側にさまざまな問題があったという。
第一に、日本人の間に韓国人に対する蔑視、優越感が抜きがたく存在していたため、これが同化を妨げた。
第二に、在朝鮮の日本人は、朝鮮人を日本人と同列に引き上げることに強く反発した。彼らは、朝鮮半島での社会的な優越を維持して快適に暮らすことを望んだようで、その優越的地位を失いたくなかった。
第三に、教育、課税、居住、結婚などで、朝鮮人であることを隠せないようにしたうえで制度的に差別した。例えば、英国の例に倣うならば、議会に朝鮮の代表を受け入れること、完全に日本人として統合するのではなく朝鮮人の文化的歴史的民族的アイデンティティーを受け入れて政治的経済的にのみ統合するというようなやり方もあったが、このような方法は採られなかった。
○原敬は日韓併合にあたって、「朝鮮人との間に真の信頼をはぐくみ内地と朝鮮の一体化を実現しないと併合は禍根を残す」と言ったそうだが、このような理想主義的な考え方は、為政者はさておき当時の日本人にひろく共有されていなかったようだ。
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