Britain and the Bonins: discovery, recovery and reclamation

This study reveals that the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands, though of minimal strategic importance to Britain and the United States, were actively negotiated for sovereignty between Japan and foreign powers during the 19th century. Despite their peripheral significance, diplomatic efforts involved high-level authorities from both countries, culminating in Japan's reclamation of the islands in 1876. The research highlights a novel perspective on Japan's modernization process within an international context, demonstrating that British authorities were willing to cede control as early as 1862 and expressed concern about shouldering responsibility for the islands by the mid-1870s.

Chapman, D. (2016). Britain and the Bonins: discovery, recovery and reclamation. Japan Forum, 29(2), 154–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/09555803.2016.1244215