History and the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands

A novel perspective on the historical development of Japanese nationality and identity emerges from the study of the Ogasawara Islands, revealing how legal status and debates over Japanese identity evolved during critical periods. This research highlights the often-overlooked translingual and transcultural diversity among Japanese nationals in these Pacific islands, offering unique insights into the emergence of notions of nation, empire, and citizenship in Japan. By focusing on the lives of individuals who lived through formative times, the study bridges gaps in understanding race and ethnicity in Asia and its connections to the Pacific.

Chapman, D. (2021). History and the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands. Routledge Handbook of Race and Ethnicity in Asia, 381–392. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351246705-30