History of Modern Japan and Post-War Reconstruction

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering major historical events, periods, and figures in Japanese history from the Meiji Restoration through the Reiwa Era.

Unit 731

A secret Japanese military base in Harbin, China (Manchukuo) that conducted biological warfare and human experimentation on approximately $500$ men, women, and children.

Shirō Ishii

Known as the "Father of biological weapons," he was the leader of Unit 731 and was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his research data.

March 1945

67 japanese cities firebombed

Article 9

A clause in the new Japanese Constitution where Japan renounces war as a sovereign right and pledges to maintain no land, sea, or air forces.

Zaibatsu

Powerful family-owned conglomerates that controlled the Meiji era economy and played a key role in Japan's modernization and industrialization.

Beate Sirota

A $22$-year-old civilian fluent in Japanese who drafted the women's rights section (Article 24) of the new Japanese Constitution.

Hibakusha

A term for bomb-affected people exposed to radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, including those in utero, who faced long-term health effects and social stigma.

1923 Kantō Earthquake

A magnitude $7.2$–$7.3$ earthquake that resulted in approximately $130,000$ deaths in Tokyo and Yokohama and led to the Kantō Massacre.

Kantō Massacre

The killing of over $6,000$ Koreans, Chinese, and some Japanese following the 1923 earthquake due to false rumors of poisoning wells and looting.

SCAP

The acronym for Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, refers to the office held by General Douglas MacArthur during the occupation of Japan.

1st Sino-Japanese War

A conflict from $1894$–$95$ between Japan and China over Korea, resulting in a Japanese victory and the acquisition of Taiwan.

Edogawa Rampo

The pen name of Tarō Hirai, a Japanese mystery and horror author famous for works such as "Human Chair" and "Hell of Mirrors."

Meiji Restoration

Occurred in $1868$, marking the end of the shogunate and the restoration of the Emperor to power, leading to rapid modernization and the end of the samurai class system.

Satsuma Rebellion

A revolt by samurai against Meiji reforms and the loss of their status, which was eventually crushed by the national army.

Russo-Japanese War

A war from $1904$–$05$ where Japan defeated Russia, becoming the first Asian nation to defeat a European power in the modern era.

Great East Japan Earthquake

A $9.0$ magnitude earthquake in $2011$ that triggered a tsunami with approximately $33$-foot waves, leaving $18,500$–$20,000$ people dead or missing.

Hiroshima bombing

Occurred on August $6$, $1945$, at $8:15$ AM; the bomb "Little Boy" was dropped, resulting in approximately $140,000$ deaths.

Nagasaki bombing

Occurred on August $9$, $1945$, at $11:02$ AM; the bomb "Fat Man" was dropped, causing approximately $70,000$–$80,000$ deaths.

Comfort Women

Women from colonized or occupied regions forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military throughout Asia.

Kyodatsu

A state of national shock, exhaustion, and despair in Japan following the end of WWII and the collapse of the economy.

Bubble Economy

An economic boom in the $1980 ext{s}$ characterized by massive asset growth and property acquisition that burst in $1989$.

Manhattan Project

A secret U.S. project initiated in $1941$ costing $2$ billion dollars to develop atomic weapons, which were eventually used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Kim Han Sun

A Korean comfort woman who provided the first public testimony about her experiences in $1991$.

Manchurian Incident

A staged railway attack on September $18$, $1931$, used by Japan as an excuse to invade Manchuria and establish Manchukuo.

Yoshimi Yoshiaki

A Japanese historian who in $1992$ discovered documents proving government involvement in comfort stations and announced his findings in $1993$.

Meiji Period

The era from $1868$–$1912$ characterized by rapid modernization, industrialization, and the centralization of government.

Taishō Period

The era from $1912$–$1926$ which saw growth in democracy, urbanization, and Japan's involvement in WWI.

Shōwa Era

The period from $1926$–$1989$ covering the rise of militarism, WWII, the U.S. occupation, and the subsequent economic boom.

Heisei Period

The era from $1989$–$2019$ under Emperor Akihito, marked by the burst of the economic bubble and major natural disasters.

Reiwa Era

The current Japanese era that began in $2019$ with a focus on modernization and technology.