Japan's Greater East-Asia Co-prosperity Sphere in World War II

FAIN: FA-10202-70

Joyce C. Lebra
University of Colorado, Boulder (Boulder, CO 80303-1058)

Study of Japan's Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere in World War II, with emphasis on the position of japanese intellectuals, government agencies, the military and those who implemented and in turn created policy in the field. Research in two phases: 1) search for official and private documents in Tokyo as evidence of wartime and pre-wartime plans of Japanese General Staff headquarters, Foreign Ministry, Greater East Asia Ministry and Total War Research Institute staffs, as well as materials and proposals by policy implementers in the field and writings of intellectual in late 1930's regarding the extension of Japanese influence; 2) research in Southeast Asia on Japanese implementation of the above plans. Study relevant to present US involvment in Southeast Asia and the emergence today of Japanese economic dominance in the area of the old Co-prosperity sphere.