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The Narrowing Sea

Fukuoka, Pusan, and the Rise and Fall of an Imperial Region
Brief Description
In The Narrowing Sea, Hannah Shepherd examines the shared histories of Pusan and Fukuoka over the eight decades from Japan's forced opening of Korea's ports in 1876 to the end of the Korean War in 1953. One city was Korean, the other Japanese; one was a... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$12000

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In The Narrowing Sea, Hannah Shepherd examines the shared histories of Pusan and Fukuoka over the eight decades from Japan's forced opening of Korea's ports in 1876 to the end of the Korean War in 1953.

One city was Korean, the other Japanese; one was a burgeoning colonial port, the other a provincial city buoyed by imperial expansion. Wars, colonisation, and capitalist industrialisation forged intimate connections between the two, knitting together an imperial region that transcended its maritime boundaries.

Drawing on both Japanese and Korean archives, and emphasising the concept of imperial urbanisation, Shepherd challenges traditional views of empire and urban growth. She shows how local networks, migration, and capital flows shaped the region's exploitative and uneven geographies.

The waters between Fukuoka and Pusan narrowed through intensified interactions that continued even after the end of empire, creating enduring legacies for the postwar and postcolonial eras.

Series: Asia Pacific Modern

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  • The Narrowing Sea
    In The Narrowing Sea, Hannah Shepherd examines the shared histories of Pusan and Fukuoka over the eight decades from Japan's forced opening of Korea's ports in 1876 to the end of the Korean War in 1953. One city was Korean, the other Japanese; one was a burgeoning colonial port, the other a provincial city buoyed by imperial expansion. Wars, colonisation,...
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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780520405295

Publisher: University of California Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 December 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: University of California Press

Illustration: 19 b-w illustrations, 8 maps, 3 tables

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 402

About the Author

Hannah ShepherdΒ is Assistant Professor of History at Yale University.

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