The Dominion and the Rising Sun: Canada Encounters Japan, 1929-41

The Dominion and the Rising Sun is the first major study of Canada's diplomatic arrival in Japan and, by extension, East Asia. It examines the political, economic, and cultural relations forged during this seminal period between the foremost power in Asia and the young dominion tentatively establishing itself in world affairs.

An overview of Canada's initial foray into Pacific affairs, it begins with the opening in 1929 of the Canadian legation in Tokyo - Canada's third such office overseas - and concludes with the outbreak of hostilities in 1941. Primarily a diplomatic history, the book also explores the impact of traders, interest groups, and missionaries on Canadian attitudes toward Japan during the interwar years. More fundamentally, it examines Canada's diplomatic coming of age closely, revealing its important Pacific dimension - a fact overlooked by historians until now - as well as the disjunct between Canada's commitment to peace and its trade with an aggressor. Meehan suggests that Canada's initially benign view of Japan, its reluctance to adopt positions in advance of its Anglo-American allies, and its lucrative Pacific trade led to a credibility gap in its policies towards East Asia.

The Dominion and the Rising Sun charts Canada's relationship with Japan, and is essential reading for those interested in Canadian history, international relations, and Asia-Pacific studies.

John D. Meehan is Assistant Professor of History, Campion College, University of Regina.