Japanese Anglophiles and the Allure of Colonization

In the era of Western imperialism, Japan not only maintained its independence but, infamously, forged an empire of its own in East Asia. During the same period, however, Japan’s political elites—including diplomats, aristocrats, and even a crown prince—flocked to European cities, ostensibly to study the secrets of Western might. In this presentation, Newhouse Fellow Hiromu Nagahara highlights the experiences of Japanese visitors to London, many of whom clearly saw the British Empire as a model to emulate in Japan’s quest to join the ranks of “Great Powers.”

Hiromu Nagahara is an associate professor of history at MIT. He is in residence at the Newhouse Center as a 2019-2020 faculty fellow.

Image Caption: Crown Prince Hirohito visiting David Lloyd George at Chequers, 1921.