General Japan Flashcards

Which 1854 agreement dismantled Japan's two-century-old policy of isolation?

The Treaty of Kanagawa.

The _____ period, beginning in 1868, replaced the Shogunate with central imperial power.

Meiji

Which social class was eliminated at the start of the Meiji period in 1868?

The samurai class.

What territory did China cede to Japan following the 1894 Sino-Japanese War?

Taiwan.

Japan gained control of Port Arthur and railway rights after defeating which nation in 1905?

Russia.

In 1919, Japan failed to get a _____ clause inserted into the League of Nations covenant.

Racial Equality

What was the primary impact of the 1924 Johnson-Reed Immigration Act on US-Japan relations?

It barred all Japanese entrance to the United States.

The 1925 Universal Suffrage Bill increased the Japanese electorate from 3 million to _____.

12 million

Which 1925 law was used by the government to clamp down on anyone opposing Japan's political structure?

The Peace Preservation Law.

How did rapid industrialization and population growth in the 1920s affect Japan's food security?

It forced Japan to import a large amount of food.

The growth of _____ (farm workers who did not own land) increased the agricultural wealth gap in the 1920s.

tenantry

By what factor did Japanese manufacturing output increase between 1905 and the 1920s?

Tenfold.

Term: Mobo and Moga

Definition: Westernized 'modern boy' and 'modern girl' fashions and lifestyles in the Taisho era.

Which conservative groups/institutions remained steadfastly in place to promote nationalist values during the 1920s?

Veterans' associations, shrine associations, and the police.

The _____ industry was a cornerstone of Japan's economic growth during the early 20th century.

textile

How did the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake impact Japanese socialists and political activists?

The police used the resulting chaos as a pretext to order their arrest.

What was the specific goal of the 'Northern Expedition' launched in 1926?

To consolidate central government control in China and wrest power from warlords.

The Japanese backed the warlord _____ in Manchuria until he attempted to expand into Northern China.

Zhang Zuolin

Why did Koda Ha decrease in popularity?

Emperor did not support their Febuary 26th revolution, thus reducing it support and falsifying its claims that the emperor supported them.

Why did Prime Minister Tanaka resign in 1929?

He was unable to implement the Emperor's wish to punish the military for Zhang's assassination.

Which Japanese Prime Minister was shot by a right-wing radical in 1930 after agreeing to naval disarmament?

Hamaguchi Yuko.

Why was Manchuria referred to by Japanese diplomat Yosuke Matsuoka as a 'lifeline'?

It provided essential resources like coal, iron, and timber during the Great Depression.

Concept: The Mukden Incident (1931)

Definition: A staged bombing of a Japanese railway by Kwantung Army officers used as a pretext to invade Manchuria.

Who was installed as the puppet ruler of the state of Manchukuo in 1932?

Puyi (the last emperor of China).

What was the main finding of the Lytton Commission regarding Japan's actions in Manchuria?

The use of force was unacceptable and Manchukuo was not an independent state.

How did Japan respond to the League of Nations' approval of the Lytton Report in 1933?

Japan withdrew from the League of Nations.

What was the primary ideological difference between the Koda-ha and Tosei-ha factions?

Koda-ha favored a military dictatorship and war with the USSR; Tosei-ha favored legal influence and conquest in China.

Which 1932 incident involved naval officers assassinating Prime Minister Inukai?

The May 15 Incident.

The _____ Incident of 1936 was a failed coup attempt by 1,500 Koda-ha soldiers in Tokyo.

February 26

What was the political result of the failed February 26 Incident?

The Koda-ha was discredited, and the Tosei-ha faction took firmer control of the government.

Which event in July 1937 is considered the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War?

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident.

What atrocity occurred in December 1937 following the fall of the Chinese Nationalist capital?

The Rape of Nanjing.

What was the stated purpose of Prince Konoye's 'New Order in East Asia'?

To unite Japan, China, and Manchukuo against communism and reduce Western influence.

The 'Second United Front' in China was a temporary alliance between the GMD and the _____ to fight Japan.

CCP (Communist Party in China)

In 1940, Japan signed the _____ Pact with Germany and Italy to deter the United States from entering the war.

Tripartite

What US policy change in July 1941 directly threatened Japan's ability to maintain its war effort?

An embargo on oil and the freezing of Japanese assets.

How much of its oil supply did Japan lose due to the 1941 Western embargoes?

94 percent.

What was the strategic objective of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor?

To cripple the US Pacific fleet and prevent interference with Japanese expansion in Southeast Asia.

Which Japanese Prime Minister in the 1920s reduced the power of the House of Peers to block bills?

Kato Takaaki.

How did the 1929 Wall Street Crash specifically impact the Japanese silk market?

The market crashed because it was heavily reliant on exports to the US.

The _____ Army was the military force responsible for Japanese security in the Kwantung Leased Territory.

Kwantung

Which Chinese city was the site where the Northern Expedition was forced to halt by Japanese intervention in 1928?

Jinan.

According to Saburo Ienaga, what was the primary driver for Japan going to war?

Japanese imperialism.

Which historian argues that Roosevelt intentionally provoked Japan to attack Pearl Harbor?

Boyle.

What was the 'Dark Valley' in the context of 1930s Japan?

The period of increasing military influence, assassinations, and sliding toward total war.

What term describes the state-sponsored propaganda used to encourage Japanese migration to Manchuria?

Safety haven (protected by the Kwantung Army).

What was the primary reason the League of Nations failed to take military action after the Manchurian invasion?

Britain and France were suffering from the Great Depression and feared starting another war.

Which 1936 pact did Japan sign with Nazi Germany to oppose international communism?

The Anti-Comintern Pact.

How did the Japanese government justify its atrocities in Nanjing based on racial ideology?

They believed they were a superior race serving a human god (the Emperor).

In 1940, all Japanese political parties were dissolved into the _____, giving complete power to the military.

Imperial Rule Assistance Association

Why did Japan's dependency on global trade make it vulnerable during the 1930s?

It had to import 100% of its aluminum and 85% of its iron and steel.

What role did mass media play in the Taisho Democracy?

It encouraged political activism and the emergence of new ideas like socialism.

Which group within the Japanese military favored the 'National Spirit' over material force?

The Koda-ha.

What was the 'Aizawa Incident' in 1935?

The assassination of Tosei-ha leader General Nagata by a Koda-ha officer.

Why did Jiang Jieshi eventually agree to form the Second United Front with the Communists?

He was kidnapped by his own troops and forced to prioritize fighting Japan.

What was the main purpose of the 1925 Labour Disputes Mediation Law?

To provide a framework for settling industrial conflicts, reflecting Kato's social legislation program.

How did the 1920s Japanese government attempt to suppress labor demands?

By using the police and military and keeping trade unions illegal.

Which international agreement in 1922 limited the growth of the Japanese Navy?

The Washington Naval Treaty (Five-Power Naval Pact).

Why did ultranationalists in the army view the Washington Treaty System as an 'Anglo-Saxon iron-ring'?

They believed it was designed to prevent Japan from expanding abroad.

What was the 'Century of Humiliation' in the context of Chinese-Japanese relations?

The period of anti-Japanese sentiment in China caused by foreign interventions and unequal treaties.

The Japanese used the pretext of 'Asians running Asia' to justify taking over colonies from which powers?

European powers.

How did the Kwantung Army ignore the Japanese government during the Mukden Incident?

They proceeded with the invasion despite explicit orders from the Prime Minister and Emperor to stand down.

What was the outcome of the 'killing contests' reported in Japanese news during the Rape of Nanjing?

Two officers competed to see who could kill 100 people first with a sword.

Which Japanese Prime Minister's manifesto included 'good relations with China, disarmament, and an end to corruption'?

Hamaguchi Yuko.

By 1939, the US began a 'moral embargo' by stopping credit and the sale of _____ to Japan.

planes and aviation parts

Which US President officially ended the policy of neutrality toward China by providing oil loans and P-40 planes?

Franklin D. Roosevelt.

What did the Tosei-ha faction believe was necessary before Japan could successfully conquer China?

Modernization of the army and industry, and total mobilization of the nation.

How did the 1925 abolishment of Article 17 of the Public Peace Law affect workers?

It removed a major legal barrier to forming trade unions.

Which faction of historians argues that World War II in Asia began with the 1931 Manchurian Incident?

Left-wing historians.

What was the 'GEACPS' (Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere)?

A Japanese-led bloc intended to secure resources and hegemony in Southeast Asia.

In 1938, Japan seized major Chinese ports and Guangdong primarily to stop _____.

aid reaching Nationalist forces

Which historical figure led the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the United Front?

Mao Zedong.

What was the primary reason the Japanese people initially supported the 1894 Sino-Japanese War?

Nationalist elation at defeating the historically dominant power of China.

How did the Meiji restoration specifically increase the gap between rich and poor in agriculture?

By institutionalizing land ownership that favored landlords over tenant farmers.

Why did Japanese military prestige decline during the 1920s?

The era's focus on internationalism, disarmament, and reduced military spending.

What were the 'Safety Zones' in Nanjing?

Demilitarized areas established by Westerners to protect Chinese refugees during the massacre.

Why did the Kwantung Army believe that conquering Manchuria would solve the problem of overpopulation?

It provided vast living space for Japanese settlers.

Which prime minister was targeted in the May 15th Incident of 1932?

Inukai Tsuyoshi.

What was the significance of Japan joining the League of Nations as a 'leading member' in the 1920s?

It represented Japan's commitment to internationalism and global recognition as a major power.

The _____ Army general staff refused to punish the assassins of Zhang Zuolin, claiming it would weaken military prestige.

Japanese

According to the Prince Konoye speech, what was the 'New Order' in East Asia intended to defend against?

Communism.

How did the US respond to Japan's 1940 entry into French Indo-China?

By imposing an embargo on the supply of scrap metal and aviation fuel.

Which historian asserts that the Pacific War began specifically with the 1937 Marco Polo Bridge Incident?

Orthodox historians.

What was the impact of the 1932 trial of Prime Minister Inukai's assassins on the Japanese public?

The trial demonstrated widespread public support for the assassins' nationalistic motives.

Term: Zaibatsu

Definition: Large industrial and financial business conglomerates in Japan that influenced government policy.

Why did Japan's 'liberalism' of the 1920s fail to achieve a new political structure?

The newly enfranchised voters were simply accommodated within the existing conservative imperial scheme.

How did the 1923 earthquake contribute to political radicalization in Japan?

The resulting panic led to government-sanctioned crackdowns on socialists and leftists.

What was the purpose of the 1928 police raids that arrested 1,600 Communist sympathizers?

To hunt down and suppress the Japanese Communist Party and its supporters.

How did Japan's success in WWI lead to an economic boom until 1921?

Japan took over Asian markets that were abandoned by European powers during the war.

Which 1910 event solidified Japan's control over the Korean peninsula?

The formal annexation of Korea.

What was the primary reason the 1930 London Naval Disarmament Conference outraged the Japanese military?

It placed limits on Japan's naval growth relative to the US and Britain.

After the 1936 incident, which faction of the military became dominant in army planning?

The Tosei-ha.

Why did the Japanese military leaders hope China would 'quickly capitulate' in 1937?

They wanted to avoid a prolonged war that would overstretch their resources.

How did Chinese nationalism respond to the 1937 invasion?

It was outraged and unified rather than being broken, leading to sustained resistance.

In 1938, Prince Konoye demanded that Japan be allowed to station troops in China to protect against _____.

communism

What was the significance of the 1925 'Universal Suffrage' excluding women?

It highlights the limits of Taisho political reform regarding gender equality.

How did the Japanese government view the League of Nations' condemnation of the Manchurian invasion?

As hypocritical, given the Western powers' own histories of colonial conquest in China.

What was the 'Lifeline' for Japan as described by diplomats in the 1930s?

Manchuria.

Why did the Kwantung Army believe that Zhang Zuolin was no longer a useful ally by 1928?

He was becoming too powerful and attempting to expand into Northern China.

When was Korea Assimilated into Japan

1910