Takami Kuwayama

Anthropologie japonaise

Introduction

Anthropologie japonaise. Découvrez l'histoire et l'évolution de l'anthropologie japonaise, de ses racines coloniales au XIXe siècle aux transformations post-Seconde Guerre mondiale. Analyse critique.

Abstract

De multiples influences se sont exercées sur l’anthropologie japonaise depuis sa formation à la fin du XIXe siècle, moment où la relation entre les Japonais et les Aïnous focalisait l’attention de la Nation. Après des premiers travaux de terrain outremer des anthropologues japonais en 1895, l’année de la victoire du Japon dans sa guerre contre la Chine, l’anthropologie culturelle, autrefois ethnologie comme on l’appelait alors, s’est développée parallèlement à l’expansion de l’empire japonais. Après la défaite du Japon à la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, l’anthropologie a connu de profonds changements; un examen approfondi révèle que changements et continuités ont perduré jusqu’à maintenant. En démontrant que les « racines colonialistes de l’anthropologie » ne sont pas un monopole occidental, est proposé un point de vue critique pour repenser l’anthropologie.

Review

This paper, titled "Anthropologie japonaise," provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the historical development and thematic evolution of Japanese anthropology. The abstract clearly delineates the field's trajectory from its late 19th-century origins, notably shaped by the national discourse surrounding the relationship between the Japanese and Aïnu peoples. It traces its expansion in parallel with the Japanese empire, marking the pivotal year of 1895 with the first overseas fieldwork after Japan's victory against China, and subsequently through profound changes post-World War II. A central strength of this work lies in its critical examination of how anthropology in Japan was intrinsically linked to broader national and imperial projects. The abstract highlights the significant transformations post-World War II, yet crucially observes the enduring presence of both change and continuity up to the present day. Most notably, the paper makes a compelling argument that the "colonialist roots of anthropology" are not exclusively a Western phenomenon, thereby offering a crucial de-westernized perspective on the discipline's entangled history with power and empire. By challenging the notion of Western monopoly on anthropology's colonial entanglements, this article proposes a valuable critical viewpoint for rethinking the discipline on a global scale. The analysis promises to contribute a nuanced understanding of how political and historical contexts shape academic fields, particularly in non-Western settings. This historical and critical approach is essential for a more complete and reflexive understanding of anthropology's past and its potential future directions, making it a significant contribution to the history and philosophy of science as well as to area studies.

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