| Summary/Abstract |
Masculinizing Japan and Reorienting San Francisco” brings the resources of urban history to the study of the United States in the world, in order to examine a local incarnation of the Cold War public-diplomacy program of sister cities. A cohort of San Francisco businessmen with interests in Asia crafted a city affiliation with Osaka in order to solidify business networks with Japan’s booming economy. The affiliation’s transpacific connections and cultural, popular programs were uniquely capable of reshaping and broadcasting images complementary to the businessmen’s goals for both official and popular audiences. Private events and public festivities portrayed Japan as a mature, capable, and equal partner in contrast to contemporary feminized and childlike portrayals or recent demonized ones. Similarly, San Francisco itself was shown as having celebrated and extensive ties to Japan in contrast to the city’s long-established Chinese connections and history of anti-Japanese activism. These new images allowed both Japanese and San Franciscans to imagine and support increased transpacific commerce while elevating San Francisco’s position in the Pacific world.
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