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Individual Paper

2. Geo-political-economic Hegemonies: Cartographies and historiographies

Maritime Networks and Shared Histories

Forged in Steel: The Origins of Japan-Rhodesia Trade and Diplomatic Relations (1924-1980)

Friday, June 13, 2025
11:15 - 13:00 GMT
Location: LOS-114

    Presenter(s)

  • PM

    Panashe Madamombe

    African Studies Centre, Leiden University, Netherlands

Paper Abstract:

This paper traces the development of trade and diplomatic relations between Japan and Rhodesia (Pre-independence Zimbabwe). The central argument is that relations between Japan and Rhodesia were borne out of a ‘quid-pro-quo’ arrangement between the two with Rhodesia supplying critical raw minerals to Japan’s industrial players whilst Japan invested in cash and kind into Rhodesia’s critical industries, greatly contributing to Rhodesia’s state survival once Rhodesia became a sanctioned pariah state.

This argument is based on archival and oral research, the research unearthed commercial agreements that came to dominate Japan’s relationship with Rhodesia; especially the 1961 deal for a £41⁄2 million steel plant at Que Que (Rhodesia) between the Rhodesian Iron and Steel Company and Kawasaki. The paper shows how post-World War II World Bank loans to Japanese steel manufacturers were channeled to Rhodesia’s iron and steel industry. In return, Rhodesia exported hundreds of thousands of tonnes of iron ore to Japan, sustaining Japan’s iron industry.







As the ‘Wind of Change’ blew throughout Southern Africa, Rhodesian and Japanese trade ties surprisingly intensified, in stark contrast to other states that boycotted the racist white regime. The paper will utilise Japan’s 20th century Black Africa and White Africa policy to explain why Japan aided the survival of Ian Smith’s regime. This analysis of Japan-Rhodesia relations comes at a time where there has been a resurgence of interest into Africa by Japan; a policy shift motivated by the rush by Western and Asian economic giants to secure mineral resources for their Green Transition.