“Japanese North China Garrison Army” (Iwanami Press, 2015)

Ryojyu Sakurai (Professor, Reitaku University)

　Thank you very much for giving me the Ohira Masayoshi Memorial Prize. This was an unexpected thing for me. I was aware that the selection criteria of being under 50 years old, and repeatedly checked if this might be a mistake. In this book, I clarified in detail the history of the Japanese army stationed in North China (the Japanese North China Garrison Army) from the installation period (1901, after the Boxer Rebellion) to its abolition after the Marco Polo Bridge incident, in relation to the Chinese domestic affairs (Chinese Revolution in 1911, Chinese Civil War in 1920’s etc.), the changes in international situations (World War I, Manchurian Incident and so on) and changing Japanese situations. I also clarified the status and the change of the forces of the Great Powers, as much as possible. 　I think the unique point of this book is the focus on that the garrison forces were not merely intended just for the protection of Japanese nationals and settlements but also on the fact that they eventually evolved to have the extra function in maintaining local order. The Japanese army tried for international coordination and did not engage in the prominent action, but gradually it changed attitude from the 1930s. I illustrated, from the army’s perspective, that the cooperation system (Beijing Protocol System) by the diplomatic corps of the Great Powers stopped working after the Washington System period, culminating in its collapse. 　This book is a purely historical study. However, I think that the research is relevant to the present in that it can relate to the following things. Today, during global conflict and social turmoil, troops are dispatched under the name of humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping. I think that various actions and changes occurring on the spot are mirrored in this past case, even if the purpose of the unit is not to fight. 　Finally, I have focused mainly on empirical studies with detailed political history. It was somewhat adventurous for me dealing such a wide canvas. I would like to express my gratitude to publisher Iwanami Shoten, the selection committee members who awarded this prize, the people of the Ohira Foundation and the seniors who mentored and inspired me.

Profile
In 1981, graduated Department of History of Sophia University, in 1988 completed the graduate school. In 1996, doctor of history was awarded. Since 1991, has been a lecturer at Reitaku University, an associate professor.d@)4-4 Currently ,professor of Reitaku University,and a part-time lecturer at Kokugakuin University. Serve as editorial commissioner of Noda city. Director of East Asian Modern History Association, Committee Member of the Metropolitan Area Formation History Research Group. Other achievements, “Departure of Taisho Political History” (1997), “Modern Political History of Teito Tokyo” (2003), “Chinese Revolution in 1911 and Changes of Japanese Politics” (2009), Kato Takaaki (2013 ), “The Internationalization Age Taisho Japan “(2017).