Japanese Manchuria. The state of Manhukuo is born, with its capital Shinkyo (Changchu to the Chinese). In Japan’s vision, it was to become an example of a neo-Asiatic nation, independent of European colonizers. Teams of Japanese planners, engineers, architects, and bureaucrats set to work. Many of the buildings constructed would resist Mao’s regime: their bombastic style would appeal to the communists. One ruthless governor of Manhukuo was Kishi Nobusuke (grandfather of multiple prime minister Shinzo Abe), who was imprisoned after the war but never tried or convicted. He was appointed prime minister in 1957.
