Historians Japon

Question 1

Marius B. Jansen

Answer 1

Japan.
- During the Rice Riots of 1918, the govt encouraged import of rice from Korea & Taiwan, but once the rice problem was stabilised, it meant that farmers in Japan had to compete with those imports.
- Although Japan seemed committed to the treaties signed at the Washington Naval Conference, the armed services had factions that sought a larger army and navy and some argued for expansion.
- the wartime boom during WWI had been greater than with earlier wars.
- the British defence in SEA were nowhere near adequate to stem the Japanese attack in the Pacific War.
- divisions between the Japanese army & navy critically hampered Japan in the Pacific war.

Question 2

Paul H. Clark

Answer 2

Japan.
- The development of night schools increased during Taisho democracy to encourage middle-school aged children who were already working to continue their education.

Question 3

Akira Iriye

Answer 3

Japan.
- The tension between democracy and authoritarianism contributed to political instability in the Taisho democracy.
- Japan’s ideological motivations clashed with US interests in the Pacific region, which motivated the Pearl Harbour attack.
- ideology gave commitment and a clear direction for military and civilians, which made Japan successful initially in the Pacific War.

Question 4

Carol Gluck

Answer 4

Japan.
- The introduction of universal male suffrage in 1925 fostered a sense of democratic engagement among the populace.

Question 5

Herbert Bix

Answer 5

Japan.
- the Great Depression exacerbated economic problems of Japan which led to social unrest and provided fertile grounds for militarists to rise.

Question 6

Amon Killeen

Answer 6

Japan.
- the LoN mandates Japan was given for former German colonies prevented the formal annexation of these territories but de facto Japan controlled them.

Question 7

John Dower

Answer 7

Japan.
- the Western powers in Europe allowed Japan to expand its influence in Asia with impunity. This in turn fuelled a powerful sense of national pride and military expansionism.
- the sting of past injustices (Washington conference for ex) undoubtedly played a role in Japanese FP as it provided the emotional tinderbox that encouraged Japan to take militarist actions.

Question 8

Michael Hogan

Answer 8

Japan.
- the peace settlement at the Paris Peace Conference exposed a deep hypocrisy in the international order as Japan, a victorious power, was denied its territorial claims and felt its status as a rising power was not acknowledged.

Question 9

Researcher Ariel Levi

Answer 9

Japan
- The US ultimatum was a threat to Japan’s war ability.

Question 10

John Keegan

Answer 10

Japan
- Japan’s aggressive FP led to a series of chain reactions and made the US a threat to its imperial ambition, resulting in the launch of a surprise attack on the US.

Question 11

James B. Wood

Answer 11

Japan
- the creation of Japan’s outer perimeter was a major strategic blunder, for it was on that perimeter that mistakes would be made that would later lead to the rapid and total defeat of Japan in the Pacific war.

Question 12

Dr Malcom A. LeCompte

Answer 12

Japan
- the lack of radar was the most important military weakness that caused Japan’s defeat in the Pacific War.

Question 13

John. E. Costello

Answer 13

Japan
- the sheer weight of American industrial might, coupled with its seemingly inexhaustible manpower pool, inevitably doomed the Japanese to defeat.

Question 14

Michael J. Lyons

Answer 14

Japan
- The Yamato was the world’s largest and most powerfully armed ship.