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Japanese Exploration of the Antarctic
This visually striking Japanese map of Antarctica, published in 1957 by Sogensha Co., commemorates Japan’s role in the International Geophysical Year (1957–58), a global scientific effort involving 67 countries to study Earth systems, particularly in polar regions.
The map is illustrated with wildlife, national flags, and expedition routes, annotated with years and color-coded according to a legend at lower left, referencing missions from 1955 to 1957. The national flags of major contributors, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France, Norway, Australia, and Japan, underscore the geopolitical significance of Antarctic exploration in the Cold War era. The lower section features a full 1957 calendar and advertises the completion of Sogensha’s World Youth Literature Series, reflecting the publisher’s educational mission, and indicating the map's likely purpose as a promotional giveaway.
The Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (J.A.R.E.) departed Japan in November 1956, led by geophysicist Noboru Takayanagi, with Showa Station established on East Ongul Island on January 29, 1957.
![[North Polar Calotte from a 17th Century Dutch Globe]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/70704.jpg)
