Nan'yō (Twilight of a New Era)

Nan'yō (南海, South Seas) consisted of several groups of islands (modern-day Palau, Northern Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands and Marshall Islands) in the Pacific Ocean which came under the administration of Japan after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I. Japanese ownership was ratified by the Treaty of Versailles. After the Great Pacific War it became the Territory of the Pacific Islands, associated with Japan.

Nan'yō was divided in six administrative districts:
 * Saipan
 * Palau
 * Yap
 * Truk
 * Ponape
 * Jaluit Atoll

Economy
Nan'yō produced significant quantities of sugar cane, bananas, pineapples, taro, coconuts, and other tropical farming products on par with Taiwan. The islands also provided bases for the Japanese fishing fleet.

In terms of mineral products, many islands yielded phosphates for farming, especially from Angaur island, which produced some 60,000 tonnes per year. Bauxite was another segment of the colonial economic structure, although the mineral was only present in the Palau group.

Large quantities of pearls, both natural and cultured, were also extracted from the islands.

Nan’yo Boeki Kaisha (South Seas Trading Company, NBK or Nambo) exploited and exported, the main cash crop of the islands, copra. Nan’yo Kohatsu, KK (South Seas Development Company, NKK or Nako), became the biggest single commercial enterprise in Micronesia in sugar cane production. The Nan’yo Takushoku, KK (South Seas Colonization Corporation, Nantaku) was created to accelerated colonization with Japanese and Korean citizens.

The islands also allowed for regular flight links for long range seaplanes such as the Kawanishi H6K2-L ("Mavis") of Dai Nippon Koku KK. Sea shipping between Micronesia and Japan was in the hands of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (Japan Mail Steamship Company).