Japan

Japan

Preface

Emergence of
Japan as a Modern
Power

Japanese
Imperialism

Preface:
From 16th Century, European traders started entering into Japan but Japanese authorities
were annoyed in the 2nd half of 16th Century, so Japan took strict action against foreigners
when foreign traders, missionaries were not allowed entry in Japan and Japan went into
isolation. This carried on for two centuries and the only connecting link between Japan and
West were the Dutch traders. In 1853, Commodore Perry, the American Naval Officer
entered into Japan and compelled the ruling class to open the door of Japan for U.S. In the
same year, Mr. Harris, the 1st American Council in Japan succeeded in pressurizing the
ruling class and had a treaty with Japan by which foreigners got Extra-Territorial Rights and
relaxation in trade and commerce of Japan. In this way from 1853 to 1867 European Powers
taking the advantage of relaxation given to U.S. made their place in Japan and Japan
became the victim of Western Imperialism. This was a shock to extra conscious population
of Japan and the subjugation of 14 years awakened the Japanese population. As Japanese
are the extra conscious race so the slavery of 14 years awakened the people creating self
consciousness among the people which led to the rise of Japan.

Rise Of Japan (1867-1894):

1. Self Liberation:
Japanese were conscious about their defeat and subjugation tried to find out the reason for
their defeat and for this purpose Japanese intellectuals visited European Nations to find out
the reason for the power and strength of European Nations. They came back with a
conclusion that the strength of Western Countries depend upon three factors:
Powerful and Centralized political setup generally based on democratic philosophy.
Modern education with emphasis on Science and Technology.
Economic development like Industrialization.

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These things acted as inspiration for Japanese and the 1st important step by
them was
Self Liberation. Under it Daminios and Samurai voluntarily surrendered their privileges to
the king. This led to important development like Social Equality in Japan and end of
feudalism in Japan. Emperor became the power center and Mutushito, the contemporary
ruler was placed in Yogo(Tokyo) with complete authority on Polity and Administration of
Nation. This was called as Meiji Restoration of 1868.
2. Self Empowerment:
Promotion to Modern Education: Self Liberation provided Japan powerful and centralized
Political System and this became the ground for other changes in Japan. Example:
Government introduced compulsory Primary education for boys and girls in which
emphasis was on Modern Education and English Medium. Universities and Colleges
were established under the Guardianship of the Government and Vocational training got
due importance in Education.
Framing of Constitution: The new Political developments required the new political
philosophy for the nation and this led to the framing of Constitution under the guidance of
Prince Ito. This Constitution was based on Prussian Model in which the Emperor was
supreme authority who appointed his ministers and officers and they were responsible to
the emperor. Along with this it also made the provision of two houses- House of
Representatives and House of Peers.
Economic Development: In which the Government concentrated on infrastructural
developments like Railways, Roadways, Telegraph etc and industrialization.
Formation of National Army: To protect the interest of Nation and Nationalism the next
important development was formation of National Army. It was not challenging for new
Government because after Meiji restoration there was social equality in Japan. Therefore
with in short span of 27 years Japan appeared to be a Modern Nation and a power in
Asia.
Japanese Imperialism:
1. In 1894, Japan was a modern power in Asia and now it wanted to enter into mainland of
Asia for its survival. The closest entry for Japan was Korea. Korea during this time was in
trouble so this led to internal crisis in Korea. Taking the advantage of this crisis, Japan
started interfering in Korea which saw the protest from China. This led to 1st SinoJapanese War (1894-95) in which China was defeated and by the Treaty of
Shimonoseki(1895), China accepted the dominance of Japan on Korea.
The Treaty of 1895 became a pain for Russia because dominance of Japan in Korea
meant attack on the interest of Russia in reserve rich area of Manchuria, Sakhalin
islands and Port Arthur. This tension between Russia and Japan became the cause of
happiness for Britain as Japan appeared to be a new check on Russia and its Asian
ambitions. In 1902, Britain had an alliance with Japan which raised the status of Japan in
Asia. As Russians increased their activities in Manchuria so they saw the protest from
Japan finally leading to the Russian-Japanese War of 1905. Russia was defeated and
this led to the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905 between Russia and Japan with the
mediation of United States. By this Treaty, Western powers including US ended all the
humiliating terms and conditions signed with Japan in the 2nd half of 19th century. This
Treaty also accepted the claims of Japan on Korea, Port Arthur etc. This equal status
with World Powers turned Japan into a World Power and in this confidence Japan
occupied Korea in 1910.
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2.

These achievements of Japanese Military turned down the mind of Military officials and
started the new development called Military Fascism. The objectives of Military Fascism
were:
Change in Political Order of Japan i.e. it should be guide by Military officials.
Formation of Patriotic Societies to glorify Military achievements.
Political Assassinations which targeted Liberals and supporters of Democracy.
Dominance of Military in all aspects of life with special emphasis on Shintoism i.e. divinity
of the ruling class.
Till 1910, Japan got the status of World Power and internal developments like Military
Fascism became the cause of tension of West. The rift between Japan and West starts
from Paris Peace Conference of 1919, when Japanese demanded German territories in
China like Shantung. U.S. protested against it and this was the beginning of clash of
interest between US and Japan. Japanese became silent and waited for appropriate time
which they got with Economic Depression of 1929 and emergence of Hitler and
Mussolini in Europe. From 1931, Japan revives the imperial policy which till now has
become the necessity for Japan because:
Rise in Population of Japan required more space for Japanese settlements.
Immigration problem with US required new areas for Japanese Workers.
Developments of Industrialization created the need for market for Japanese Goods.

In this scenario, Japan targeted Manchuria in 1931 and in its 21 Point Program wanted
China to be under Military protection of Japan. This was against the interest of European
Powers and US, so they stood up against imperial designs of Japan and Japan
overcoming International Pressure and the threat of League of Nations attacked China in
1937 leading to 2nd Sino-Japanese War. US alarmed by the step of Japan tried to
control it through Economic sanction and under it the steps of US were:
Ban on the export of Scrap iron and Oil to Japan.
Americans also freezed Japanese Accounts in US.
This irritated Japan and in retaliation to this Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941. Japan
came out with two new ideologies Asia for Asians in which the objective was to uproot all western Powers from Asia and
establish National Governments in the Countries of Asia.
New Order i.e. the co-prosperity of Asian Nations in alliance with Japan and under the
guidance of Japan.
With these new ideologies they overran entire Eastern Asia from Korea to Philippines but
they failed to convince the people of respective areas. They also failed to manage the large
territories away from Japanese island and finally the story ended with the dropping of Atom
Bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 1945, the war came to an end but Japanese
occupation of Eastern Asia created the trouble for World Powers like US and USSR leading
to the crisis of Korea and Vietnam.

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