Kougi Ukuraina no Rekishi (Lecture on the History of Ukraine)

This book is a collection of lectures delivered at a cultural center on the theme of Ukrainian history. Since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War in February 2022, interest in Ukraine has grown significantly, with several experts offering commentary on the war through media platforms. However, most of these studies have been conducted from an international, political, or military perspectives, with little commentary on its historical or cultural aspects. Moreover, literature on these aspects is scarce, with only a limited number of academic or general interest books available on Ukraine. Historically, only one general overview of Ukrainian history could be read in Japanese, in a book published in the early 2000s. In response to growing public interest in Ukrainian history, a project was launched to produce a comprehensive history of Ukraine. This initiative featured lectures by leading historians specializing in Russia, Ukraine, and Poland, which were later compiled into a book.
 
This book offers a comprehensive history of Ukraine, authored by 11 historians. Following an overview of Ukrainian history in Chapter 1, the book chronologically traces Ukraine’s past from the era of Kievan Rus' to the present day. In addition, it includes chapters on subjects such as “Jews,” “historical awareness issues,” and “the Orthodox Church,” offering a multifaceted perspective rather than a linear historical narrative. Given the scarcity of Ukrainian history experts in Japan, it was inevitable that the histories of surrounding regions would be incorporated to construct a general history, resulting in a diverse range of topics. However, this approach has highlighted the multifaceted nature of Ukrainian history, resulting in a more engaging read compared to a general overview by a single author.
 
In editing this book, we did not adapt a simplistic stance that portrayed Ukraine as good and Russia as bad. Instead, we aimed to present Ukrainian history while considering the differing historical perspectives of Ukraine and Russia. It goes without saying that Russia has violated international law in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and should rightly be condemned for it. Nevertheless, we have adopted this editorial approach because we believe that merely condemning Russia will not resolve the issue and academic work should maintain objectivity by avoiding value judgements. In particular, as third parties, we should acknowledge that both Russia and Ukraine have their historical perspectives and arguments. Our role is to situate this war in its historical context and academically explore potential compromises towards its resolution. While the contributions of Japanese historians to this war may be limited, this book attempts to make a modest yet meaningful contribution.
 
This book was written in the wake of the war, and many passages reflect this context. Nevertheless, as editors, we believe we have compiled a comprehensive history that will be relevant for years to come, serving as valuable resource for those seeking to learn Ukraine’s history, even after the war has ended. We hope that readers interested in Ukrainian history will find this book a useful resource in Japanese.
 

(Written by MAYUZUMI Akitsu, Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences / 2025)