Asian Studies

State Shinto

State Shinto was used to create a national ideology to inspire unity and loyalty to the imperial state.

Militarism: Reasons for

National security and independence from foreigners are considered dependent on Japan's military.

Militarism: Standing Military

Japan needed a standing military and colonies to be respected by the West.

Militarism: Connection to Nationalism

Hagakure was published, mythologizing the samurai spirit as a national trait.

Freedom and Popular Rights Movement: Women's Role

Women have become the main providers of many homes.

Freedom and Popular Rights Movement: Women's Rights

Women wanted more rights, leading to the women's suffrage movement.

Meiji Constitution: Weaknesses

The emperor has all the power, weak parliamentary governance, and weak civil control over the military.

Diet: Control Over Military

The diet had little control over the military branch.

Diet: Prime Minister and Cabinet

Diet control over the prime minister and the cabinet was not part of the constitutional system.

Imperial Democracy

Power was held by the emperor, so he could take away democracy at any point.

Women: Contribution to Modernization

Women worked in factories to produce silk, the main export of Japan.

First Wave Feminists: MOGA Group

The first generation of women in Asia to be liberated from traditional roles.

First Wave Feminists: Independence

New jobs brought women to the city, providing them with independence.

Women's Participation in Politics

Women were not accounted for in Japanese politics but were allowed to have jobs.

"Good Wives, Wise Mothers"

The Meiji government wanted women to prioritize being good wives and mothers over independence.

Meiji Goals

Avoid becoming a colony, promote nationalism, modernize, and become a great world power.

Sino-Japanese War, 1895

Japan freed Korea from China in Japan's war against China.

Treaty of Shimonoseki

Declared Korea free from Chinese tributary status, gave Japan treaty ports in China, Taiwan, Pescadores Islands, Liaotung Peninsula, indemnity, and most favored nation status.

Russo-Japanese War, 1905

Japan's war against Russia, supported by propaganda showing Japan's martial prowess.

Treaty of Portsmouth

Korea recognized as Japan's sphere of influence, Russia gave Japan Port Arthur & Liaotung Peninsula, half of Sakhalin Island, and southern Manchuria became Japan's sphere of influence.

Hibiya Riot, 1905

30k gathered to denounce the Portsmouth Treaty, leading to a violent 3-day riot questioning Japanese citizenship.

Annexation of Korea, 1910

Japan formally annexed Korea, expanding its empire.

Taisho Emperor

Emperor Meiji died in 1912, and his son, Taisho, ascended the throne despite being cognitively impaired.

Taisho Democracy

Political crisis due to Taisho's inadequacy, leading to international cooperation and global economic integration.

Zaibatsu

Several large capitalist enterprises owned by families.

League of Nations: Racial Equality Clause

Japan wanted equal rights for their race, but the League of Nations refused.

Great Kanto Earthquake, 1923: Impact

Devastating quake causing firestorms, deaths, homelessness, and chaos in Tokyo.

Great Kanto Earthquake, 1923: Reaction

Politicians blamed divine punishment for urban culture, leading to violence against Koreans and political opponents.

Peace Preservation Law

Limited public debate, leading to the creation of the "thought police."

Universal Male Suffrage

Led to multiple political parties and allowed men power over women.

Moga and Moba

Represented a new generation of confident and financially liberated youth copying American and Western styles.

Problems of the 1920s & 30s

Bank failures, labor strife, anti-Japanese sentiment, Great Depression, and Japan seen as an inferior country.

"Internationalists" vs. "Militarists": Internationalists

Wanted international trade, improved relations, and were leftists.

"Internationalists" vs. "Militarists": Militarists

Traditional, conservative, opposed foreign trade, saw big business and the West as corrupting.

Emperor Hirohito (Showa)

Emperor during WWII, stripped of divine title, closer to the public.

Mukden (Manchurian) Incident & Manchukuo

Militarists blamed China for bombing a railway, leading to an attack on China.

Second Sino-Japanese War // WWII

Japan's second war against China, including the Rape of Nanking.

Rape of Nanking (1937)

Japanese soldiers raped 80k women and killed most people in Nanking.

Southern Strategy

Japan expanded the war south to attack Americans, which did not work out.

Greater East Asia War // Pacific War (1941-1945): Co-Prosperity Sphere Purpose

A union of Asian countries for economic self-sufficiency, but it failed.

Greater East Asia War // Pacific War (1941-1945): Reasons for Failure

Japan wasn't advanced enough.

Conditions of War: Conduct

Japanese soldiers starved, suicide was common, scared of western control.

Suicide Pilots/Yokota

Kamikaze pilots used manned planes to destroy ships and other targets.

Other Asians Under Japanese Rule: Comfort Women

Women were forcefully taken and used as objects to please Japanese officers.

Unit 731

Tested biological and chemical warfare on people to create successful biological weapons.

American Perception of Japan: Pacific as a "Race War"

America saw Japanese as inferior, strong enemies but dumb.

Potsdam Conference

Allies decided Japan's fate, demanding unconditional surrender.

Post-War Occupation: SCAP / General Douglas MacArthur

Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers aimed to remake Japan on the US model.

Post-War Occupation: Goals

Remake Japan on the US model.

Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal

Charges against 28 Japanese leaders for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Treatment/Use of the Emperor

Emperor renounced divine status, became a national symbol, but failed to fully apologize.

1947 Constitution

Written by Americans but claimed by Japan, included Article 9.

Article 9

Japan cannot have an army for attacking and spends less than 1% of GDP on defense.

Post-War Reforms: Political

Removed military figures, businessmen, and politicians from government, released political prisoners, banned military from public office.

Post-War Reforms: Economic

Zaibatsu were broken, land reforms, labor reforms, allowed unionization.

Post-War Reforms: Social

New education system, equal rights for women, women's suffrage in 1946, marriage equality in 1948.

Reverse Course

Reforms were reversed as Americans wanted Japan to join them in the Cold War.

San Francisco Peace Treaty

Japan renounced claims to Korea, China, Taiwan, Manchuria, Sakhalin, and other Pacific islands.

US-Japan Security Agreement

US keeps military bases in Japan, Japan can't lease bases to any other foreign power.

Modern Japanese View of the War/Responsibility

Japanese see themselves as war victims led astray by bad military leaders, support Article 9 and the new constitution.

Themes: Nationalism

Fostered by the Meiji government using state religion and the emperor to keep control.

Themes: Democracy

Evolved from potential to adoption, but power was kept by the emperor, fully adopted post-WWII.

Themes: Japan's Modernization

Successes led to a superiority complex and tragedies against China and Korea.

War and Responsibility: Why It Happened

Japan's restless military and desire for more colonies.

War and Responsibility: Civilians' Role

Civilians are seen as complicit in their government's actions.

Post-War Occupation: Success and Failure

Succeeded in fostering Japan's economy and Article 9, failed in reversing union creations and not punishing the emperor.

Post-War Occupation: US Credit

US credited for Japan's economic boom and the creation of Article 9.