From “Convict” to “Victim”: Commemorating Laborers on Hokkaido's Central Road

A critical reassessment of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution sites, proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status, highlights the erasure and misrepresentation of laborers' histories. While the 2015 nomination emphasized Japan's rapid industrialization as a 'unique achievement,' it overlooked the exploited workforce, particularly those on Hokkaido's Central Road, whose experiences transitioned from 'convict' to 'victim' in official narratives. The study exposes how the sites' commemoration perpetuates a sanitized version of history, prioritizing economic success over human cost. This analysis challenges the narrative linking Meiji-era industrialization to Japan's modern economic dominance, advocating for a more inclusive and nuanced recognition of its complexities.

Solís, J. (2019). From “Convict” to “Victim”: Commemorating Laborers on Hokkaido’s Central Road. Asia-Pacific Journal, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.1017/s1557466019015158