New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Subodhana Wijeyeratne, "The Islands and the Stars: A History of Japan's Space Programs" (Stanford UP, 2026)
Feb 23, 2026
Subodhana Wijeyeratne, historian and assistant professor who traced Japan’s space programs, uncovers nearly a century of overlooked space history. He discusses Japan’s rise to a top space power, early 1920s roots and wartime rocketry, postwar revival and institutional shifts leading to JAXA, and how public politics, funding choices, and practical satellite missions shaped a distinct path in global space exploration.
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Japan Built Space For Commerce Not Prestige
- Japan's space program prioritized commercial and practical goals over prestige-driven Cold War motives.
- Subodhana Wijeyeratne shows Japan focused on making money and niche technologies like solar sails and reentry systems from the start.
Submarine Runs Brought German Rocketry To Japan
- Japanese engineers retrieved German rocket materials by submarine in 1943, sailing from occupied France to Singapore around the Cape of Good Hope.
- This 15,000-mile mission delivered engine samples and technical know-how that fueled wartime Japanese rocketry efforts.
Occupation Bans Shaped Postwar Rocketry
- US occupation bans (1945–1952) halted aeronautical work, creating a sharp postwar restart for Japanese engineers.
- Decentralized wartime research culture left Japan without a unified rocketry program, a legacy that shaped postwar institutions.
