The Empire’s Factory: Technological Politics in the Making of the Western-style Confectionery in Prewar Japan

Date(s)： 2024/04/09

Time： 14:00~16:00

Venue： Archives 3rd Conference Hall

Host： Prof. Fu Jia-Chen ( Associate research fellow ,IMH, AS)

Speaker：Mrs. Lillian Tsay （PhD Candidate, Department of History, Brown University）

Organizer： Western Learning and China Research Group

Abstract:
This presentation explores the production of Western-style confectionery (yōgashi) such as chocolate, caramels, and candy drop in the modernized factories in prewar Japan. Following the factory’s manufacturing line, it unpacks how the making of Western-style confectionery was made with meticulous calculations of getting the right taste through a standardized procedure. New technologies such as color dyes and fragrances were also incorporated to enhance the product’s visual and olfactory appeals. Additionally, attention was also paid to the packaging of these confections, including the choice of paper materials for hygienic concerns and color of the package designs. The incorporation of advanced technology, mechanization, and industrial expertise demonstrates that Western-style confectionery goods can be regarded as products of scientific research and management. Finally, this presentation concludes by showing that the confectionery factory served not only as a backstage for production but also as a public site to promote Japan’s national power and industrial might.

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