Dialogue to the Future: Interviews with a New Generation of Researchers in the AJI

Sixth Interviews

Interview with Dr. Kazutaka SOGO

Interviewer: First, could you tell me what led you to decide on a career as a researcher?

Dr. Sogo: At first, I wanted to be a high school teacher. While pursuing this path, during my third summer vacation of my university life, I read the diary of Nobuaki Makino, the second son of Toshimichi Okubo, who was the subject of my thesis. It was enjoyable to understand the inner thoughts of politicians who lived in those days by reading their diaries. I went to the library every day from opening to closing as I was really immersed in my research. Around this time, I began to have a strong desire to pursue a master’s degree, but to do so, I would have to write a really good thesis, so I devoted myself desperately to research at that time. If it hadn’t been for that summer, it wouldn't be now.
Still, I knew it was a challenging job to pursue just because I wanted to continue my favorite research, so I decided it was time to give up if I was not sure I could compete in this challenging world and try it out. The article I wrote during my master’s course based on my bachelor thesis was accepted by a peer review of an academic journal, which inspired me to pursue a career as a researcher. After achieving this, I became more determined to face more challenges in the academic world and pursued that path.

Interviewer: Evaluating your research motivated you to become a researcher. That’s an important moment. Next question: what distinguishes doing a doctoral thesis in graduate school from post-doctoral research?

Sogo: In my case, the environment has completely changed. Compared to when I was in graduate school, I now have more chances to engage with researchers from different disciplines. As a result, I now better understand Japanese history, including its strengths, weaknesses, and appeal. As a researcher of political history, I aim to make it engaging and enjoyable for everyone. I often have opportunities to hear English presentations and read and write papers. In addition, I now earn a salary by sharing my expertise instead of paying school fees. Therefore, I need to enhance my awareness and improve my skills.

Interviewer: Interacting with researchers from different fields, publishing research findings in English, and transitioning from a student to a salaried employee -- all significant changes in the work environment. What's more, it is linked to expanding your research possibilities. You specialize in the political structure and process of the interwar period in Japanese history. You mentioned your bachelor's thesis earlier. Could you explain why you chose this research topic and how it came about?

Sogo: My passion for Japanese history drove me to pursue it earnestly in college by enrolling in the College of Letters. At that time, I was unsure which historical era to study. But deep down, I wanted to find my own answer to why pre-war Japan had to pursue the path to the brutal Asian-Pacific War. During my first and second years in university, I had the chance to study Japanese modern and contemporary history in a small session. As I delved deeper into the research world, I became increasingly fascinated by its depth and complexity. I chose my current research theme because I believed that the failure of party politics from 1924 to 1932, which was the ultimate goal of Taisho Democracy, was the most important turning point that paved the way for war.
Instead of analyzing individual subjects, I've focused on clarifying the changes and continuities in the political structure under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan from the Meiji and early Taisho periods. In the first place, I found myself highly unsure and unclear about the departure to start analyzing this research subject. However, I believe I successfully completed my doctoral thesis because I remained true to my initial interest in this theme.

Interviewer: The interest you had upon entering college, combined with your college learning experience, led to the writing of your doctoral thesis. That is quite a story. When conducting research on the Taisho and Showa periods, do you frequently rely on historical materials and documents from that era? Can you share with me your thoughts on the level of interest they provide? Additionally, I am curious if reading Japanese from that time period presents any challenges.

Sogo: The Japanese language during the Taisho and Showa periods is much closer to Japanese today than it was in the pre-modern and Meiji periods, which makes it more readable. But if you cannot read the roughly written cursive letters, you cannot do research, so I think that is tough. One of the charms of Japanese history is the ability to read the actual handwriting of people from that time period. I began studying earnestly in my third year of undergrad. It was enjoyable to gradually learn how to read, which I quickly accomplished.
There are numerous historical documents in the country and abroad that I enjoy finding, making modern and contemporary history charming. This is also the charm of studying the history of modern Japan. I am always excited when I go to research, and I get excited when I find the historical materials I have been looking for.

Interviewer: Deciphering cursive writing and uncovering historical documents——it sounds like a treasure hunt. Is discovering new historical materials the main objective?

Sogo: It is not always true. One of the most exciting parts of my research is reading historical material left by humans and interpreting it differently than previous research. I use historical materials to give my own interpretation of history. Discovering a new meaning in a well-known historical source sparks my interest in studying history, not finding a new source or fact.

Interviewer: I see. It is very fascinating that historical materials become meaningful only because they can shed new light on our interpretations of the past. What about your recent research topics?

Sogo: My research has been centered on the collapse of party politics in Japan. It has been revealed through investigation that the party cabinets of the prewar period were not following the expected logic of being responsible and cabinet-centric, which would have been the proper foundation for supporting party politics. The structural issues causing this deviation were latent from the start of party politics. I am currently studying the political structure of the 1930s following the collapse of party politics. I examine how the formation of Manchukuo, a Japanese puppet state, impacted Japan’s domestic political system. It is challenging to explain how this affected the decline of parliamentary politics in pre-war Japan.

Interviewer: Yes. That must be challenging indeed. Now, during your research, you consistently analyzed Japan and the international context, including colonial administration and economic situations. What is your opinion on the significance of studying Japanese history within a regional framework?

Sogo: Before the war, Japan hugely impacted international relations in East Asia. A lot of research has been done on this. However, there is an important issue that needs to be addressed, which is that the study of Japan’s political history during the interwar period is significantly imbalanced, as the influence of East Asia on Japan is notably neglected in comparison to the study of Japan's influence on East Asia. The importance of Japan’s control of its colonies and Manchukuo before the war is a topic that cannot be overlooked. Through extensive analysis, I think that by studying Japan's political operations, specifically those of the Cabinet, and by taking an international approach, we can provide new insights into the impact of the international environment.

Interviewer: Capturing Japanese politics in a regional setting is essential, both past and present. What is most interesting about your research these days?

Sogo: Through my previous research, especially focusing on 1920s Japan, I discovered that there were conflicts among political actors who could have threatened the unity of party cabinets. Currently, I am delving into historical materials from the 1930s, and it appears that the problems that had been building up during the 1920s finally erupted once party politics ended.
During the crisis in Japan, many unrealistic and infeasible initiatives were proposed. After observing these intense conflicts, I have realized that the party politics at that time lacked sufficient integration and this has helped me to reach a deeper understanding of the failure. I find these points particularly interesting.

Interviewer: It is very insightful to understand the political situation in Japan in the 1930s as a result of the accumulation of conflicts from the 1920s. What kind of research do you intend to conduct from now on?

Sogo: My immediate goal is to publish a book based on my doctoral thesis. And in the future, I would like to write a biography about an individual politician. Exploring the political structure of prewar Japan can be challenging when it comes to defining the characteristics of individual politicians. However, I aim to provide a visual representation by incorporating their unique personalities into my analysis. Also, I would like to write a book widely read by the general readership, such as a paperback in Japan.
Currently, I am looking to expand the reach of my research findings on an international scale. Being in the AJI research environment has helped me improve this skill. In the future, I aim to become a university researcher and contribute to building an international academic network that includes Korea and Taiwan.

Interviewer: Although challenging, exploring historical accounts of personality and societal structures is thrilling. I am really looking forward to seeing how your research develops in an international network and produces new interpretations of history. This is the last question: What advice would you give to the next generation of researchers starting graduate school?

Sogo: Having a solid plan in place from the start of your research process for a doctoral dissertation and smoothly accumulating research results would be ideal. However, there may be times when you encounter challenges and setbacks. In graduate school, as you advance from master's to doctorate degrees, you are expected to contextualize your research within the larger context of your research field. In the process of conducting research, it is very common to lose sight of the meaning and methods. During my Ph.D. studies, I experienced similar struggles and felt the urge to give up. This is an important moment to get back to your original interest in your research. When someone decides to attend graduate school, they are often driven by a strong internal magnetism and passion for research. It's crucial to establish connections with fellow researchers, but it's equally important to maintain relationships with individuals outside of the academic sphere. Gaining insight into the values of working people can reveal the potential impact of pursuing a career in research. I believe that the simple answer to why you are conducting research is know what motivates you, what stimulates your interest, so I hope the next generation of researchers keep that in mind.

Interviewer: Based on today’s interview, it seems that's exactly what you have shown us about your own path. I am excited about the publication of your book, as I heard preparations are going well. Keep it up!