Two monuments in Majuro Atoll and economic development

Abstract

Two monuments erected by the Government of Japan stand in the Majuro Atoll of the Marshall Islands: The East Pacific Monument to the War Dead and The Seion-Kinenhi. For the Japanese government, the construction of the later monument shows the graciousness of the Emperor towards the residents of the Marshall Islands through the support provided for typhoon damage. The former monument was erected to commemorate the victims of World War II and seek peace and friendship at the request of the bereaved families. Both monuments were constructed at different times and with different intentions by the Japanese government. However, despite these intentions, ri-Mājro (local people living in the Majuro Atoll) linked the construction of both monuments to Japan’s economic development and the economic development of Majuro Atoll, keeping in mind that both monuments were erected by the Japanese government. Monuments have unique powers of evocation without historical context, although the image of Japan and things related to Japan might have been partially generated by ri-Mājro’s emotional backlash against the US policy and administration.