Tanegashima and Firearms Technology Transfer in Japan: A Cultural Perspective on Contemporary Japan–U.S. Defense Cooperation

Abstract

This article explores the 1543 Tanegashima event as a cultural prototype, showing how Japan received foreign technology in its history. Other than changing the nature of warfare during the Sengoku period, the introduction of firearms created a unique culture of selective adaptation and domestication of technology. The copying of these technologies by the locals is an example of identity construction, where foreign technologies are tamed to fit domestic culture. Adopting a cultural studies approach, this paper highlights this continuity in Japan's current defense diplomacy through an analysis of Article 9 of the country's constitution. As revealed in the research, the Japanese government navigates current relations as a pacifist state with a strong cultural identity. According to this paper, supported by the views of Putri et al. (2024), this approach reflects Japan's longstanding cultural pursuit of technological autonomy.