History of Japan: Impact of Militarism Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering the political, economic, social, and diplomatic impacts of Japanese militarism on both Japan and Asia, including key figures, laws, and organizations.

Cherry Blossom Society (櫻會) and Blood League (血盟團)

Extreme nationalist and militarist organizations that carried out assassinations of the Prime minister and cabinet members due to dissatisfaction with ruling parties.

Hamaguchi Osachi (濱口雄幸)

The Japanese Prime minister who was assassinated in $1930$, contributing to political instability.

Inukai Tsuyoshi (犬養毅)

The Prime minister assassinated in $1932$ because he did not support the establishment of Manchukuo (滿州國).

February 26th Incident (二二六事件)

A $1936$ intense political struggle of the military that resulted in the assassination of former Prime minister Saito and Financial Minister Takahashi Korekiyo.

Imperial Rule Assistance Association (大政翼贊會)

A single party established in $1940$ after all other parties were dissolved, marking the beginning of one-party dictatorship in Japan.

Tojo Hideki (東條英機)

A leader in the $1940\text{s}$ who centralized power by simultaneously holding the positions of Prime minister and army minister (陸軍大臣).

National General Mobilization Law (國家總動員法)

A law passed in $1938$ that allowed the government to control and allocate all resources and manpower without approval from the Diet.

Control Association (統制會)

An organization established in $1941$ to allocate raw material and capital while setting prices and production volumes.

Lytton Commission (李頓調查團)

A group sent by the League of Nations to investigate the invasion of Northeast China, which concluded the invasion was not reasonable.

Patriotic Industrial Service Federation (產業報國聯盟)

A wartime organization encouraged by the government to involve citizens in the production of military equipment.

Women’s Volunteer Labor Corps (婦人勤勞挺身隊)

An organization for women aged $12$ to $39$ to participate in heavy industry production; more than $470,000$ women joined between $1943$ and $1945$.

A6M Zero (零式戰鬥機)

A type of aircraft produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (三菱重工) during Japan's military expansion; more than $10,000$ units were manufactured.

Nanjing Massacre (南京大屠殺)

A large-scale cruel military event launched by Japan during the full invasion of China starting in $1937$, causing permanent traumatic damage.

Unit 731 (731 部隊)

A Japanese military program that conducted biological warfare experiments during the invasion of China.

Comfort stations (慰安所)

Facilities where the Japanese military forced women to work during the war, causing traumatic damage to 'comfort women'.

Tanaka Memorial (田中奏摺)

A $1927$ proposal by Prime minister Tanaka Giichi suggesting Japan should conquer China first to use it as a resource base for further expansion.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (大東亞共榮圈)

A Japanese concept promoted with the slogan 'Asians liberating Asia' that strengthened Southeast Asian determination for independence.

Sukarno and Hatta (蘇加諾及哈達)

Local leaders supported by Japan to establish the Republic of Indonesia (印尼共和國) during the occupation period.