Shotouka-Chiri
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The geography book Shotouka-Chiri (Geography for Primary Schools) was published in Japan in 1943. It was the official geography text for obligatory use in the 'Kokumin Gakkou (National School) Primary school official system organized in 1941. It complemented the Japanese history present in Shinmin no Michi and Kokutai no Hongi official texts amongst the Imperial Rescripts on Education.
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
This text book was divided in two parts: Chapter I "the Geography of Japan" and Chapter II "the Geography of the World".
The content of the first chapter of part 1 the Japanese island are explained in relation with to the Asia-Pacific Region specially the Greater East Asia Region. The physical environments of Japan was explained in detail in Chapter 2. The geography of each region in Japan is presented from chapter three onwards and Karafuto, Chosen, Formosa, Kantoshu in China, in addition to the Japan mainland. These were part of Japan at that time. The contents of each chapter from chapter two onwards are chronological, mainly relating to products from each region.
[edit] Contents of Shotouka-Chiri text
- Part I 1 Map of Japanese Empire
- 2-Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku
- 3-Kanto Plains, in which the capital of Empire situated
- 4-From Tokyo to Kobe
- 5-From Kobe to Shimonoseki
- 6-Kyushu and small island surrounded
- Part II 1 Greater East Asia Map
- 2-Syonan (Singapore) and Malay peninsula
- 3-The Islands of East India (Andaman and Nicobar)
- 4-The Philippines Archipielago
- 5-Manshokoku (Manchukuo)
- 6-Moukyo (Mengchiang) the northeast part of China
[edit] Patriotic and nationalist ideas in text
Description in chapter one is as follows:
"The shape of which each islands, the Chisima-To, in the north the Main island Honshu in center and Ryu-Kyu islands in south are protruding to the Pacific ocean like a bow makes all of Japan islands tigthen much better. We can feelsomething of strong powers from this shape. The shape of the Japan islands is not ordinaire one, We can imagine the shape of going forward to the Pacific Ocean bravely standing in front of Asian continent.the Japan islands also considered as playing the role of defending the continent from the Pacific Ocean. In this way, we feel the that God truly created our country, Japan which is blessed with matchless territoire in this location and its shapes".
And the last paragraph in the chapter describe this:
"High population density and high increasing ratio of population in Japan isquite rare in the world. This indicate the full of State Power and makes us feel reassured"
If related above seeing the geographical view which admired the shape of JapanArchipielago, is identified it as the Hub of the Asia-Pacific Region anddestine of future prosperity of Nihon and Dai-Toa (Greeted East Asian) Region.
In Second Chapter of same book is observed the Asia-centric world view. Its contents no are not worldwide but are restricted Asia and Oceania.
The Dai-Toa region is present in first section on Chapter I and then each region is described in turn Singapore, Malaya Peninsula, the Philippines, Manchuria, Mengchiang,etc. In last Chapter (III) the book if states the next:
"It is our country, Nihon, from which the sun rises up, that is located in the centero f Dai-Toa (Greater East Asia), which included The Pacific Ocean region and its islands from Asian Continent to Indian Ocean. Accordings with the "Tenno" will a hundred million of our brethren who is borne in Japan should accomplish the great task of building the Dai-Toa region of which we should not be to disappointment to our ancestors. We should give and share to all people the pleasure of eternal world ofpeace and Co-Prosperity of all countries in the world"
