1921 Bird's-Eye View Railroad Map of the New Japan Empire

This is a rare and stunningly produced Taisho 10 or 1921 map of the Japanese Empire, including Taiwan and Korea, issued by the daily Tokyo Asahi Shimbun. The map uses a bird's-eye view model to illustrate the Japanese islands as well as Japanese imperial claims in Korea, Taiwan, The Ryukyu's, and Karafuto (Sakhalin). A globe appears a center, situating Japan in a global context. Red lines illustrate the empire-wide railroad network, with stops and connections identified throughout.

The New Japan

The map is entitled 'Bird's Eye View of the New Japan,' the emphasis being on 'New.' From 1900 to 1920 Japan undergone a period of major expansion and modernization. Days after this map was issued, the governors of Japan would sit down as equals with the major European and American powers at the Washington Naval Conference - by doing so Japan established itself as a major world power - the first Asian nation to do so. While superficially illustrating the Japanese railroad network, this communicates a greater message. It illustrates the full extent of the expanding Japanese Empire. A globe at center presents Japan at the center of a world stage, with imperial and maritime connections that extend throughout Asia, to Australia, Europe, and the Americas.

Publication History and Census

This map was published by the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun as a supplement to issue no. 12352 on November 3, 1921. The map was prepared by Naomitsu Ibe ( 直光伊部), retired general and had of the land survey department. Cartographically it is based upon work completed by Kenji Ogura.