Over the past four decades, East and Southeast Asia have seen a proliferation of heritage sites and remembrance practices which commemorate the region's bloody conflicts of the period 1931-45. This book examines the origins, dynamics and repercussions of this regional war 'memory boom'.
'A welcome series of informative essays about war memory in East and Southeast Asia. The authors insist on place -- seeing Asian commemorative practices in their own national and transnational terms rather than as refractions of European experience -- and time -- showing that the memory surge of the 1990s had a history long predating the end of the Cold War. A timely intervention in the politics of war memory in Asian and global context.'
Carol Gluck, Professor of History, Columbia University, USA
'Here in Japan, intentional or unintentional erasure of war-related history is rapidly advancing in our educational institutions, where teachers are obliged to adhere to "political neutrality". This book thoughtfully analyzes the focus, intentions and methods of conflict commemoration across East and Southeast Asia, showing the fraught state of heritage politics throughout the region. It reminds us that the pursuit of truth, rejection of erasure, and reconciliation beyond national boundaries will never be achieved through an insistence on keeping history monolithic and static.'
Tomoko Ako, University of Tokyo, Japan
