[UTSUNOMIYA, KEN. EDITED BY]. 宇都宮謙編纂.

大東亞共榮圈南方大觀. [Daitōa kyōeiken nanpō taikan].22
[Overview of the Southern Region in the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere].

東京. [Tokyo]. 帝國日日通信社. [Teikoku Nichinichi Tsūshinsha]. Showa 19 [ 1944]. Stock ID #219636

Colour maps, black and white maps including endpaper maps, black and white photographic illustrations, 30.5 x 22cm, [11] + [134] + 133pp, maps on front and lower free endpapers, soft cords ties, cloth covered boards. Lower endpaper lightly creased, margin of endpaper and last leaf chipped, light even browning text, pages of illustrations clean. A very good copy.

This 1944 publication on the Southern Regions (南方) of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere provides extensive coverage of Southeast Asia under Japanese control since 1942, including the Philippines, Indochina and the Dutch East Indies. Australia and New Zealand also receive brief attention. The volume is richly illustrated with more than 130 pages of black and white photographic illustrations and presents an idealised portrayal of the administration of occupied territories and the utilisation of their natural resources.

The book also surveys the Pacific War from its beginning, although the narrative does not extend beyond mid-1942, when Java was occupied by Japan. Germany’s “victorious” campaigns in Europe are featured towards the end of the volume. Numerous endorsements by high-ranking Japanese military commanders are included, presenting an optimistic and triumphant vision of the Co-prosperity Sphere. Yet the account records only successes up to 1942, revealing the increasingly outdated nature of the narrative as Japan’s fortunes in the war began to decline. Likewise, the German campaigns described do not reflect the realities that were soon to follow.

On the lower endpaper there is a map of Southeast Asia in which Australia and New Zealand appear at the top of the world, while Taiwan and Hong Kong are positioned toward the lower part of the map. This unusual orientation offers a striking and ideologically framed view of Southeast Asia and Oceania.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 219636.

Price: $500.00 AU

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