Republic of the Marshall Islands
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Historic Preservation Office
P.O. Box 1454 ~ Majuro ~ Marshall Islands ~ 96960
Phone Number: (692) 625-4476 Fax: (692) 625-4476
rmihpo@gmail.com www.rmipho.com
PROJECT NOTIFICATION
PROJECT TITLE: ETHNOGRAPHIC EVALUATION
GRANT NUMBER: 68-14-0000
INVENTORY ASSESSMENT, & RESEARCH DESIGN
FOR FUTURE PROJECT: PHASE II
AREAS AFFECTED BY PROJECT:
Republic of the Marshall Islands and Japan
TOTAL PROJECT COST: $27,155.00
FEDERAL SHARE: $27,155.00
COUNTRIES: ALL
NONFEDERAL SHARES: N/A
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: N/A
PROGRAM AREAS: Public Education (traditional skill and knowledge);
Historic Preservation, Registration, Inventory,
and Compliance
TYPE: New [X] Revision [ ]
1. CONTRACTOR OR HPO PERSONNEL:
RMIHPO (Project Coordinator):
TBA, Cultural Anthropologist
HPO Staff:
Mabel Peter (Deputy HPO)
Kazutoyo Wase (Asst. Archaeologist)
Steve Titiml (Grant Manager/Historian)
Local Experts: TBD
Assistant/Interpreter in Japan: TBD
Japanese to English text translator: TBD
Editor: RMIHPO Professional Staff, TBD
2. BUDGET:
Item:
Project budget
TOTAL
Price:
$27,155.00
$27,155.00
1
4. PURPOSE: To add complete, accurate, readable, and accessible English translations of
traditional and historical sites in the Marshall Islands and to study Japanese-produced ethnographic
documents to the historical and cultural record of the Marshall Islands and to enhance the cultural
knowledge perspective of current Marshall Islanders as told by the oral/traditional experts.
The intention of this project has been to replicate the success achieved by the recently completed
translation of “Ralik-Ratak” by Kramer and Nevermann—an invaluable record of Marshallese
history and culture, previously only available in the German language. This project will involve
ethnographic documents produced by Japanese ethnographers between 1914 and 1948, a period
known in the Marshall Islands as “Japan Times.” At present the body of work comprising the
historic and cultural record of the Marshall Islands is completely void of Japanese-produced
ethnographic documents from this significant time period. This aim of this project is to conduct an
inventory of Japanese ethnographic records (housed in Japan), to acquire copies of the records, and
to determine the most important or culturally significant record to translate from Japanese to
English. As an undetermined number of documents exist, we are proposing to translate up to 450
pages worth.
At the onset of WWI in 1914, Japan seized control of the Marshall Islands from Germany, with
Jaluit as the Japanese administrative center. The Japanese military, through the South Seas Defense
Corps, governed the Marshalls until 1918. From 1918 until 1920, a combined civilian and military
government ruled. In 1920 Japan was awarded Micronesia as a Class ‘C’ mandate by the League of
Nations. The terms of the mandate were upheld until 1933 when Japan withdrew from the League of
Nations (although they continued to submit annual reports through 1937). After 1933, the Japanese
considered the Marshalls and the rest of their Micronesian mandate, an integral part of the Japanese
Empire (Peattie 1988).
During the Japanese era, the administration had several goals, including: the economic development
of Micronesia; the use of the islands as an immigrant settlement for Japan’s rapidly increasing
population; enforced acculturation of ethnic Marshallese through Japanese-style education, Japanese
language training, and a shift to Japanese social economics and politics; and eventually, the use of
the islands for military bases in anticipation of World War II (Peattie 1988).
In the Japanese administration’s attempt to shift the traditional Marshallese social and political
organization, they appointed non-Irooj (chief) Marshallese leaders—contrary to the existing political
structure—thus weakening the position of the traditional leader (Bryan 1972). Additionally, the
Japanese also attempted to change the Marshallese social organization of matrilineality to conform
to the Japanese system of patrilineality. Interestingly, many of the attempts at “Japanization” failed
to stick completely.
“Japan Times” as an attempt at complete cultural destruction and change has consequently produced
a begrudging connotation. In interesting contrast, however Protestant and Catholic proselytization
was allowed to continue unhampered, and Spoer (1949) writes that in general, the Marshallese
appears to have gotten on well with the Japanese. The ethnographic records produced by the
Japanese administration will provide insight into Japanese/Marshallese interaction, attitudes, and
relationships (valuable, however biased they the writings may be), and will fill a major void in the
historical record of the Marshall Islands.
2
English is the language of formal study in the Marshall Islands; it is for this purpose and for the sake
of ensuring the widest circulation possible, that we are proposing an English translation of the
documents in hopes of translating them into Marshallese later on.
5. SCOPE OF WORK:
 Travel to CITY, Japan or relevant archives/museums in the Pacific that may have records
(HPO staff anthropologist , HPO staff) where the ethnographic records produced during
Japan’s occupation of the Marshall Islands are housed in LOCATION.
 Spend two weeks collecting inventory (with the aid of Japanese assistant and interpreter),
of all records, for RMIHPO collection.
 With the aid of Japanese assistant and interpreter, determine the overall topics covered in
each document for labeling and organizing purposes.
 Obtain copies (digital, if possible) of as many documents as possible to keep on file at
RMIHPO, for easy access and potential future translation projects.
 Determine most significant document/s (up to 450 pages) to be translated from Japanese to
English.
 Record/research all materials RMIHPO has worked on in files and Alele Museum
 Translate documents (up to 450 pages)
 Edit translated documents
 Produce and distribute CD copies and hard copies to relevant institutions
6. PRODUCTS PRODUCED:
 Inventory of Japanese ethnographic reports produced during “Japan Times” (to include
titles and topics of each report)
 Copies of Japanese-produced ethnographic
 Inventory of ethnographic reports previously done by RMIHPO
 Organize all related material to give an accurate description of ethnographic detail of the
Marshall Islands.
5 Hard copies of the final product, two copies for the RMIHPO and one copy for each of the
following institutions/organization: Alele Library, College of the Marshall Islands, University of the
South Pacific- Majuro, Marshallese Cultural Society, Marshall Islands High School, Majuro
Cooperative High School, OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS
7. BEGINNING/ENDING DATES:
 On-site Japan research: October 2013
 Begin translation: January 2014
 Begin Editing: August 2014
 Final report: December 31, 2014
3
8. No program income will be generated.
9. CERTIFICATION: As the duly authorized representative, I certify that this sub-grant will be
administered and work will be performed under the supervision of a professional meeting appropriate 36
CFR 61 requirements, in accordance with the Historic Preservation Fund Grants Manual, and the
Secretary of the Interior's “Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation." All
documentation required by the Historic Preservation Fund Grants Manual will be maintained on file for
audit and State Program Review purposes. All proposed costs for personal compensation charged to the
Federal or nonfederal share of this sub-grant are within the maximum limit imposed by Chapter 13,
Section B.34.e. of NPS-49. These costs have been assessed by knowledgeable SHPO staff and found to
be within the normal and customary range of charges for similar work in the local labor market, and
appear to be appropriate charges for the product to be achieved with grant assistance.
_______________________________
Molly Helkena
Historic Preservation Officer
_____________________
Date
National Park Service Approval
________________________________
Paula Falk Creech
American Samoa and Micronesia Program
_______________________
Date
4