How does Japan remember the Mongol invasions of the 13th century? This talk explores how these events have been commemorated and reimagined across centuries, in monuments along Kyushu’s coast, in festivals that celebrate divine winds and local heroism, and in history textbooks that frame the invasions for new generations of students. By tracing these layers of memory, the talk highlights how legend, ritual, and education intertwine to sustain and reshape collective understandings of the Mongol invasions. In doing so, it considers how Japan’s “memoryscape” blends myth and history, shaping not only national identity but also public engagement with the past.
Li Narangoa is Professor of Asian History at The Australian National University and founding director of the ANU Mongolia Research Institute. Her research spans modern Japanese and Mongolian history, memory, and cultural encounters across Asia.