Pacific War Battle Sites through the Eyes of Japanese Travel Writers: Vicarious Consumer Travel and Emotional Performance in Travelogues

Abstract

This article analyzes travelogues written by Japanese visitors to the battle sites of the Pacific War. It argues that they tend to turn the destinations into exclusively Japanese zones of emotional performance, thereby promoting an imaginary reconquest of these sites. While most of these travelogues recount deepening empathy toward the Japanese victims and ignore the islander counterparts, a minority imagine the suffering of the islanders and view the Japanese as perpetrators. These conflicting visions reflect the historiographical debates in Japan. In order to establish whether the journeys yielded these visions or reinforced previously held beliefs, the background, styles and motivation of the travelers require careful consideration.