Doboku: Changes in the Social Evaluation of Infrastructure Development in Japan

This chapter discusses the emergence and significance of doboku as an essential concept of Japanese development assistance that emphasizes support for developing infrastructure. Through an analysis of historical processes, it shows how the meaning of doboku has changed from the construction or repair of large buildings to infrastructure development to a translation of the English “civil engineering,” which focuses on technology, without incorporating a philosophy of how or why technology should be built or used. On one hand, such a lack of philosophy leads to a negative image of doboku as “crude and muddy.” On the other hand, there have also been attempts to re-establish the philosophy of doboku through explanations of its historical origins adopted early in the Meiji era. Moreover, doboku redeems its negative image in the context of development assistance, since working “in the mud” together with local people is a way to gain their trust. By expanding our perspective on this Japanese doctrine to include development assistance, we can more fully evaluate the unique characteristics and potential of the practical knowledge embodied in doboku.