Japan Looks to the West - Vocabulary

Shogunate or Bakufu

Feudal military dictatorship, held the practice and power as the military dictator

Comm. Matthew Perry and the Black Ships

Led by Perry, these ships demanded trade and humane treatment, cornering the Japanese via gun boat diplomacy (forcing them to end their isolationist policies)

Treaty of Kanagawa

Japan’s response to the Perry’s black ships, as it opened ports to the Western powers and changed political power, returning it to the emperor.

Tokugawa

The ruling shogun of Japan who signed the Treaty of Kanagawa

Daimyo

Feudal lords of Japan, beneath the shogun but above the samurai and other warriors

Feudalism

Cultural, ideological, and institutional legacy (beneath the Shogun), the Japanese government prior to westernization, UTTER IMPERIALISM

Samaurai

The lowest rank within the Feudal system prior to westernization, elite warriors and Providence protectors

Bushido

Way of the warrior, Samaurai ideology that influenced their feudal system and obedience

Meiji

Emperor’s role, which became more prominent after the Treaty of Kanagawa, modernized Japan’s government via westernization

ALSO promoted democratic ideals, as the Meiji Restoration was something of an oligarchy (beyond an imperial rule)

Sino-Japanese War

Japan defeated China, with the help of adaptation of German military tactics and British navy, making Japan seem more superior that it had originally led on

Anglo-Japanese Alliance

Treaty between GB and Japan that ended Japan’s isolationism, creating the 1st military alliance between a European nation and an Asian power, countered Russia in its expansionism and protected their interests in China/Korea

Treaty of Portmouth

Treaty between Russia and Japan that ended the Russo-Japanese War, gifted Japan Korea and South Manchuria (railway access), along with Port Arthur

The “Yellow Peril”

The fear that instilled many Americans with the thought that Asian immigrants would take over their jobs, resulting in a series of discriminatory acts (The Immigration Act of 1924)

Internationalism

The political beliefs that advocated for cooperation diplomacy, mutual understanding, and good relations between nations. Japan wanted to keep these with the US especially for economic reasons.

Washington Conference

the conference was held in the US between all nations regarding their relations with Japan (4, 5, 9 Power Treaty)

4 Power Treaty

Treaty with Japan, the US, GB, and France that demanded respect of each other’s colonial possessions and to prohibit any territorial disputes between them

9 Power Treaty

Signed with China and the same nations from the 4 Power Treaty, as well as many others like Netherlands, Portugal, etc, this also demanded respect to China as a nation

5 Power Treaty

This was a naval treaty that restricted competition in battlefields, aircraft carriers, etc. Set a SPECIFIC RATIO for US (5), GB (5), Japan (3), France (1.75), Italy (1.75) . This greatly angered Japan, who needed as much as naval armies as they could (they’re an island).

Zaibatsu

Massive, family-owned, vertically industrial/financial conglomerates that dominated the Japanese economy from the Meiji Restoration to the end of WWII

Taisho Democracy

Series of reforms Institutes during the Emperor, Taisho’s reign, it regulated the prime minister’s position to be divided into a bicameral legislature

21 Demands

Issued by Japan onto China, required them to give Japan political, economic, and territorial control (angering GB and the US, as this violated their agreements made at the Washington Conference)

Sovereignty

Independent authority, to govern oneself—-Japan’s driving force in foreign policy, military/diplomatic action

Shandong

Area located in Northern China peninsula, originally a colonial territory of the German’s that held their military bases…Japan fought for it

Manchuria

An area in China that is closely located to Japan and heavily fought for by other nations due to its supplies/mineral resources…later established an Open Door Policy (but not by the nation itself)

Red Army

Army of the Bolsheviks, workers/peasant Army, helped Japan expand during the war by importing Japanese men (who stayed in Russia past the war effort)

Siberia

Siberian Intervention (1918 - 1922) — Japan’s largest military expedition creating a buffer state between their land in Korea and Manchuria, protecting it from the hands of the Russians

Amur River Society

The prominent Japanese paramilitary and ultranationalists/secret society that promoted Pan-Asianism, promoted the expansion…strongly AGAINST internationalism

“Rich country, strong military”

Promoted by the Meiji government after the Treaty of Kanagawa—statement made by the government that promoted national unity and patriotism (not internationalism)