Desire for Equality with
the West
 Power returned to Meiji (1854), who begain dismantling
Of the Feudal System and establishing limited democracy
 Meiji’s ambition to become
“first-class country”after the Treaty of Kaganawa
 Reforms in all areas: military – they believed
“rich country = strong military”
 Sino-Japanese War (1894-95), Japan
defeated China establishing itself as
a world power with an empire
 Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902 (UK)
 Participation at the Versailles Conference-
Which gave Japan control over German
Pacific islands- established Japan as naval
Power
 League of Nations in 1921
 Offended by USA excluding Asian
Immigrants
Belief in a Destinty as the
Leader of Asia
 First Sino-Japanese War - Japan
Defeated China – established itself as
Regional leader
 Japan crushed Russia over interests
Korea (1904)
 Issued China with “Twenty – One Demands”
Forcing China to agree to remaining
Japanese in Shandong and Manchuria
 China’s political instability was key in
Encouraging imperial competition –
Therefore, taking advantage of China
And Korea would establish Japan as dominant
Regional player .
Growh of Japanese
Nationalism in the 19th
Century
Popular Enthusiasm for
militarisn and
expansionism
 Military reforms: modernization and
adapting Germany military tactics,
 Established Navy
 After Sino-Japanese war - population
told to “endure hardships” as huge
amount of money was spent on Army
and navy
 Amur-River Society established
 1920s more government power given
to military due to challenge facing
demoncracy adn fear of left wing
radicalism
 Japan’s Preservatin Laws
Need for Strategic Security
 Manchuria – buffer against Russia
 1920s - focus on policy of
Inernationalism to enhance
economic advance while complying
to international policy (Kijuro)
 Treaties: 4 & 9 power treaties
 5:5:3 Naval Treaty
 Hara’s government - led Japan into
the League of Nations
 Belief that control of China and
Korea enhanced security
Need for Raw Materialis and
Markets
 Sino-Japanese War – China
forced to open ports to
Japan
 Manchuria – agriculturally
rich with minteral
resources – needed for
advanced industrilization
 Japan supplied goods to
other nations during WWI
 Divide between rural and
urban areas – due to
economic trouble – belief
that governmetn was
closely asociated with
zaibatsu