'Inclusions' and 'Exclusions' in the Empire of Japan : Under the Rising Sun by Satō Haruo

“Under the Rising Sun” is the very first story in Satō Haruo’s anthology, Musha, published in 1936. “Under the Rising Sun” was first released in a new-year special issue of the women’s magazine, Josei, in January 1928, under the original title “Kidan” (“A Strange Story”) and then retitled when Musha was published. “Under the Rising Sun” is about a couple, the Matsubaras, who come from rural Japan. The Matsubaras are sent to India and Africa as slaves during the early Meiji period. Eventually, they are set free and go to Taiwan, a new colony of the Japanese Empire, to acquire their own farm. Unfortunately, they are killed by Taiwanese thieves in the end. The storyteller is a government officer of the Governor-General of Taiwan, who recounts the story to a reporter. Previous research on Satō Haruo’s Taiwan-related works have focused on the relationship between “colonists” and “natives.” Some examine Satō’s thoughts on China or ancient Chinese writing style (kanbunchō) used in his works. However, this article is about the difference between the colonists. In the first place, this article analyzes why Satō changed the title for the publication of Musha. Furthermore, I argue that “Under the Rising Sun” is a story about something that cannot fit into the dichotomy of “Japan” and “China” or “suzerain” and “colony.” Colonists are not monolithic. There are many differences between them, determined in part by factors including core-periphery positionality, region, gender, and class. Through this analysis of “Under the Rising Sun,” this article reveals these problems.