The Turning Point in US-Japan Relations

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

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2. Entering on to the World Stage: The Advent of a New International Order

   • Misuzu Hanihara Chow, Kiyofuku Chuma

   Pages 1-30

3. Domestic Situation

   • Misuzu Hanihara Chow, Kiyofuku Chuma

   Pages 31-57

4. The Making of a Young Diplomat: Thrust into the Caldron of Japan–US Diplomacy

   • Misuzu Hanihara Chow, Kiyofuku Chuma

   Pages 59-86

5. Hanihara at the Peak of His Career: Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the United States

   • Misuzu Hanihara Chow, Kiyofuku Chuma

   Pages 87-123

6. A Tragedy that Eroded Japan–US Relations: The Truth Behind the “Hanihara Note”

   • Misuzu Hanihara Chow, Kiyofuku Chuma

   Pages 125-172

7. The Washington Conference Undone: The Impact of the Japanese Exclusion Clause

   • Misuzu Hanihara Chow, Kiyofuku Chuma

   Pages 173-208

8. The Courage of One’s Conviction: Braving the Currents of Showa Diplomacy

   • Misuzu Hanihara Chow, Kiyofuku Chuma

   Pages 209-244

9. Back Matter

   Pages 245-252

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This book analyses two international incidents in the 1920s shocked Japan and changed the way in which the country looked at the West. In the Paris Peace Conference, Japanese proposed Racial Equality Bill was defeated. In 1924, the US passed the immigration law that singularly excluded Japanese from immigration. Little known today, the two incidents made significant impact on Japanese mind-set. Detailed study of the two incidents reveals how they contributed towards the drastic transformation of Japan, from the liberal thinking Taisho Democracy in the 1920s to the violent rise of ultra- nationalism in the 1930s. Departing from a purely academic style writing, the story develops around the life of Hanihara Masanao, Japanese diplomat, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and ultimately the Ambassador to Washington during the fateful years of 1923-24. A unique pair of a Japanese Studies scholar in Australia and a leading investigative journalist in Japan undertook the work. Rigorous archival search extended over Japan, the United States, Australia and Europe resulted in a significant amount of new materials never published in English before.

• Japan’s Diplomacy
• Japan US Relations
• Modern Japanese History
• Japan in 1920s
• Taisho Democracy
• Paris Peace Conference
• Racial Equality Bill
• Japanese Exclusion Act
• 1924 US Immigrarion Law
• Hanihara Masanao

• St Ives, Australia

  Misuzu Hanihara Chow

• The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, Nagano, The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo, Nagano, Japan

  Kiyofuku Chuma

Misuzu Hanihara Chow


Born in Tokyo, Japan. BA in Economics/Journalism, Waseda University, MA in Journalism, University of California, Berkeley, PhD, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Japan Taught Japanese Studies subjects and language at UC Berkeley, University of Toronto, and Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Head of Macquarie University Japanese Studies Department (1988-2007) and Director of Macquarie Japanese Studies Centre (1994-2007). Lives in Sydney with husband Dr Michael Chow. Has two daughters and 4 grandchildren.


Kiyofuku Chuma (1935-2014)


Born in Kagoshima, Japan. Joined the Asahi Shimbun, Japan’s leading newspaper, in 1960. Worked as political journalist, editorial member specializing Japan’s security and politics, editor in chief, president of Osaka Asahi, and Vice President of the Asahi Shimbun. Research fellow at MIT(1983-84). A principal mover to establish Japan’s Canon of Journalism. Represented Japan to International Press Institute (IPI) in Vienna. Well-respected investigative journalist and political and social critic in Japan. Numerous publications of books, essays and articles in Japan.

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