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Japan Flashcards

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1
Q

Cause and Purpose of the Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905

A
  • Conflicting imperial interests in Manchuria and Korea
  • Russia and Japan both wanted resources
  • Both countries threatened each other’s economic interests
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2
Q

Course of the Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905

A
  • Japan took over Korea and destroyed Russia in naval battle of Tsushima Strait due to proximity to Japanese mainland and modernised military equipment/tactics
  • Concluded by Treaty of Portsmouth with Japan as victors
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3
Q

Impact of the Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905

A
  • Japan was internationally recognised as a power
  • Japan controlled Korea, parts of China and Southern Manchurian Railway
  • Japanese agreed to stay out of Manchuria’s development and use railways for military reasons
  • Japanese industrial boom, successful consumer manufacturing, prestige, military growth
  • Allowed annexation of Korea
  • Established that imperialism/militarism/war could provide resources and empire
  • Japan could use China and Korea as buffer zones to protect from Russia
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4
Q

Course and Impact of the Annexation of Korea 1910

A
  • Japan forced Korea to accept Japan-Korea protocol at start of Russo-Japanese War so they could interfere in domestic/financial affairs and control strategic locations
  • 1905 Japan-Korea Treaty made Korea a protectorate and Korea lost diplomatic sovereignty
  • Japan took over internal administration of Korea so army was reduced to single garrison and all police matters were controlled by Japanese police
  • Japan officially annexed Korea in 1910 and it became a buffer zone between Japan and Russia
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5
Q

Purpose, Description and Impact of the 21 Demands 1915

A
  • Secret agreement between Japan and China to turn China into a protectorate
  • During WWI because major powers could not interfere
  • China agreed to 4 groups out of 5
  • Group 1 allowed Japan to control transport in Shandong Province
  • Group 2 confirmed Japan’s dominant position in Manchuria by appointing Japanese officials
  • Group 3 established Japan’s mining rights in China
  • Group 4 denied China to lease coastline to other countries
  • China refused Group 5 which would give Japan control of financial and police systems, making it a protectorate and getting annexed
  • Japan gained extraterritorial and economic rights in China
  • Defied Open Door Policy
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6
Q

Japan’s Role in World War I and the Aftermath

A
  • Supplied Allies and textile exports increased by 185%
  • 70 000 Japanese troops in Siberia during and after Russian Civil War, sought to bring down Bolsheviks and capture Russian territory but failed and left in 1922
  • Received German mandates at Paris Peace Conference
  • Was denied racial equality and nationalists began to resent Western powers
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7
Q

Purpose and Impact of the Washington Conference 1921-22

A
  • Naval arms race was occurring
  • US President Warren Harding initiated 7 treaties to maintain peace in the Pacific
  • Ended Anglo-Japanese alliance that existed since 1902 and Japan felt betrayed, hostility rose towards west
  • Eased Pacific tensions for a short period
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8
Q

Washington Conference 1921-22 Treaties

A
  • Four-Powers Treaty: reduced aggression of Pacific islands and mandates, emphasised respect of other nations’ island possessions
  • Five-Powers Treaty of Naval Disarmament: reduced Japan’s navy 5:5:3 to US and Britain, limited tonnage and calibre of capital ships, was advantageous to Japan as navy was concentrated while US and British navy was scattered, Japan could trade with Korean but US could not
  • Nine-Powers Treaty: to respect China’s sovereignty/territory, allowed China to develop government, conduct foreign business and deny special rights to countries, Open Door Policy so all powers had equal access to Chinese markets
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9
Q

Political Issues in Japan by 1921

A
  • Fragile government
  • Growing nationalism
  • Genro advised Emperor and held immense power
  • Humiliating Washington Conference and Paris Peace Conference
  • Rice Riots 1918: rice price rose 174% due to wartime inflation, people demanded more rights and government resignation, 30 killed, 5000 imprisoned, government accepted demands import cheap rice and enact new trade laws
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10
Q

Social Issues in Japan by 1921

A
  • Disparity between urban and rural populations due to modernisation
  • Tenant farmers paid 50% of their main crop to landlords as rent
  • Increasing population with 56 million in 1920
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11
Q

Economic Issues in Japan by 1921

A
  • Economy temporarily benefitted as Japan supplied ammunition to Allies in WWI
  • Lack of raw materials due to 73% mountainous terrain
  • 90% of oil had to be imported
  • Rice Riots 1918: rice price rose 174% due to wartime inflation, people demanded more rights and government resignation, 30 killed, 5000 imprisoned, government accepted demands import cheap rice and enact new trade laws
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12
Q

PM Hara Kei’s Government and its Impact

A
  • In office 1918 - 1921
  • First ‘commoner’ prime minister
  • Seiyukai Party
  • Strengthened political parties
  • Constructed low-cost housing
  • Extended provisions for higher education
  • Set up consumers’ cooperatives and public markets to deal with inflation
  • Reduced voting tax from 15 yen to 3 yen which increased electorate by 500 000
  • Hara’s government faced economic downturn and many people believed they were not offering the civilians anything
  • Influenced greatly by zaibatsu as Seiyukai Party was close to Mitsui
  • Zaibatsu provided funds for elections/bribes and government pushed laws to protect conglomerates from anti-capitalist attacks from military and farmers
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13
Q

PM Kato Takaaki’s Government and its Impact

A
  • In office 1924 - 1926
  • Kenseikai Party
  • Introduced 1925 Universal Manhood Suffrage Act so all men over 25 could vote and electorate increased from 3 to 14 million, was originally 2% of the population and increased to 19.1%
  • Eliminated 4 army divisions, reduced military budget by 26% and removed 2000 officers from active duty who became conservative military instructors in school
  • Introduced 1925 Peace Preservation Law to arrest liberals and 16000 communists due to civilian exposure to Marxism, banned 350 newspapers
  • Supported by Mitsubishi zaibatsu as Kato married into the family
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14
Q

Impact of the Great Kanto Earthquake 1923

A
  • Destroyed 48% of Tokyo
  • Killed 140 000 people
  • Rendered 1.38 million homeless
  • Led to landslides and tsunamis
  • 6000 Koreans and 700 Chinese killed as scapegoats for fires and conspiracy to overthrow government
  • Shintoists blamed unstable and corrupt democracy
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15
Q

Four Major Zaibatsu

A
  • Mitsui
  • Mitsubishi
  • Sumitomo
  • Yasuda
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16
Q

Economic Influence of the Zaibatsu

A
  • Monopolised everything ‘from paddock to plate’
  • Controlled series of companies in foreign trade, mining, shipbuilding, heavy industry and commercial interest
  • Big Four directly controlled 30% of mining and 60% of commercial stock exchange
  • Exports increased by 89% and imports increased by 30% between 1929 and 1937
  • Kato’s 1925 Peace Preservation Law eliminated trade unions and benefitted zaibatsu
  • Number of banks between 1926 and 1929 fell from 1417 to 874 as zaibatsu absorbed them
  • Were granted aid in 1927 Showa Financial Crisis and prospered in Great Depression through low labour costs that hurt workers
  • Military developed strong hostility towards them and capitalism so it imposed control over zaibatsu’s financial and strategic decisions in 1930s
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17
Q

Political Influence of the Zaibatsu

A
  • 28% of Kizokuin (Upper House) was connected to zaibatsu
  • Political parties benefitted them in exchange for securing votes and bribes
  • Kato’s Kenseikai Party was supported by Mitsubishi zaibatsu as he married into the family
  • Kato’s 1925 Peace Preservation Law eliminated trade unions and benefitted zaibatsu
  • Provided military with technology and armaments for expansionist foreign policy
  • Supported military for foreign markets
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18
Q

Brett Walker’s quote on Social Issues in Japan by 1921

A

“economic disparity characterised this period”

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19
Q

Isaac Meyer’s quote on Limited Liberal Democracy

A

“degree of democracy should not be overrated”

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20
Q

Richard Storry’s quote on Limited Liberal Democracy

A

“new ideas, new fashions, new technical inventions”

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21
Q

William Lockwood’s quote on the Influence of the Zaibatsu

A

“Japan’s governments looked to the zaibatsu for aid and assistance in financing budgets”

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22
Q

Gordon Greenwood’s quote on the Influence of the Zaibatsu

A

The army “disliked their economic independence and their plutocratic status”

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23
Q

Impact of Seiyukai Party

A
  • Right-wing conservative party
  • Wanted to protect old social order
  • Rejected worker/union rights
  • Wanted universal suffrage
  • Supported by landlords and zaibatsu
  • Supported military
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24
Q

Impact of Kenseikai Party

A
  • Left-wing liberal party
  • Wanted social change for egalitarian society
  • Promoted laws to support workers/farmers
  • Improved international relations
  • Lessened military control
  • Introduced 1925 Universal Manhood Suffrage Act
  • Introduced 1925 Peace Preservation Law
25
Q

Genro and their Impact on Party Politics

A
  • Respected elder statesmen from Meiji period
  • Tenno’s advisors
  • Decisive influence in military, commercial and bureaucratic affairs
  • Power was not limited by constitution
  • Selected PM until 1918
  • Could force ministers out of office
  • Selected bureaucrats for key civil positions
  • Many held cabinet positions
  • Lost control over bureaucracy as they aged
  • Belief in transcendental government where oligarchy ruled free of party loyalties
26
Q

Bureaucracy and their Impact on Party Politics

A
  • Selected by genro so they shared authoritarian and conservative values
  • Angry and cynical about parliamentary politics and corrupt behaviours
  • Became larger and more influential as Japan modernised and industrialised
27
Q

Army and its Impact on Party Politics

A
  • Supplied Ministers of Army and Navy otherwise cabinet would have to resign
  • Ministers of Army and Navy could bypass PM and Diet as they answered directly to tenno
  • Corrupted party politics led to growing appeal of ultranationalism
  • Acted separate from the state at times
  • Assassinated political rivals
28
Q

Richard Storry’s quote on the Army and its Impact on Party Politics

A

Army was powerful so “indiscipline was overlooked” as it began to exert its control freely

29
Q

Kenneth Henshall’s quote on the Army and its Impact on Party Politics

A

“as the politicians dithered, the military took matters into their own hands”

30
Q

Reasons why Limited Liberal Democracy Failed

A
  • Traditionalist ideas of social harmony, respect and adhering to social stratification didn’t fit with parliamentary democratic ideas
  • Democracy did not include individualism and egalitarianism
  • Violence ran rampant, especially political assassinations
  • Genro exerted significant anti-democratic influence
  • Bureaucracy was conservative and became larger and more influential as Japan modernised and industrialised
  • Power and influence of zaibatsu due to wealth from industrialisation corrupted party politics
  • Growing military influence
  • General public saw politicians as selfish and corrupt whilst soldiers were seen as disciplined and loyal to tenno
  • Military resented Hamaguchi’s government signing 1930 London Naval Treaty which reinforced 5:5:3 capital ship restrictions of Washington Conference
31
Q

Stephen Large’s quote on why Limited Liberal Democracy Failed

A

“Failure to bring about fundamental changes … allowed the liberalism of Taisho democracy to disappear”

32
Q

Political Impact of the Great Depression

A
  • Destroyed political liberalism and public confidence in party government
  • Government failed to stabilise economy
  • Rise of right-wing militarists opposing party politics
  • Army was enraged as they had rural backgrounds and suffered the most
  • Army sought militarism and nationalism, began to assert itself into government
33
Q

Economic Impact of the Great Depression

A
  • Demand for foreign goods decreased and tariffs increased which lowered industrial and rural wages
  • Massive rise in unemployment
  • Rice prices collapsed in 1930 so rural incomes lowered
  • Rice crop failed in 1931 and led to famine
  • Agricultural prices fell 40%
  • By 1932, exports to US had fallen by 40% and exports to China had fallen by over 50%, especially silk
  • Between 1925 and 1930, gross income of agricultural households fell by 45%
  • Rural communities were hit by famine in 1934 and many had to sell daughters into prostitution
34
Q

Development and Impact of Modernisation and Urbanisation

A
  • Urban population had grown from 15% in 1900 to 25% by 1920
  • Tokyo’s middle-class population grew from 6% to 22% from 1908 to 1922
  • Reliance on machinery rather than workers
  • Increased trains, cars and electricity
  • Both men and women pursued careers and self-reliance
  • Female white-collar workers doubled between 1920 and 1930
35
Q

Development and Impact of Rising Social Tensions

A
  • Strain between urban and rural populations due to job disparity and educational opportunities
  • Sudden modernisation and urbanisation created gap and tensions between open-minded youth and conservatives who remembered Edo period
  • Traditionalists believed modernity was “ero, guro, nansensu” (erotic, grotesque, nonsensical)
  • 45% of total population was rural
  • Urban population had grown from 15% in 1900 to 25% by 1920
  • Reconsideration of traditional notions of family/society/individual
  • Western influences in clothing (women’s moga style and men’s moba style), cuisine, entertainment and values
  • Women moved away from “ryosai kenbo” roles (good wife, wise mother) and pursued careers
  • All Japanese (including females) were required to complete six years of elementary education but urban people could attend secondary school and tertiary education
36
Q

Examples of the Army’s Increasing Control

A
  • 200 army officers planned coup to establish military dictatorship headed by tenno in 1927 but did not go through with it
  • Kwantung Army murdered Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin in 1928 without government’s knowledge or approval but was not punished out of fear of unrest
  • Army’s control in politics solidified after 1931 Manchurian Incident: Kwantung Army staged an explosion on Mukden railway line, blamed China, took Mukden, Manchuria became puppet state Manchukuo, assassinated PM Tsuyoshi Inukai and refused to supply war minister to the cabinet
  • Japan entered Kurai Tanima (Dark Valley) in 1931 which was period of militarism/repression
  • 1937 Marco Polo Bridge Incident: Japanese forces clashed with Chinese army, occupied Beijing, led to Second Sino-Japanese War
  • 1937-38 Rape of Nanking: brutal and sadistic actions of Japan, mass murder/rape/torture, aimed to consolidate Japanese occupation but failed as Chinese resistance stiffened
37
Q

Kodoha Faction (Imperial Way Faction) Ideology

A
  • Advocated for Showa Restoration where wealthy would surrender power and property to tenno
  • Aggressive expansionist operations
  • Believed war with USSR was inevitable so Manchuria was needed
  • Anti-communists
  • Wanted to expand northwards into Russia
38
Q

Toseiha Faction (Control Faction) Ideology

A
  • Advocated for expansion into China
  • Wanted good relations with Soviet Union
  • Wanted resources
  • Wanted to expand southwards into South East Asia
39
Q

Military Seizure of Government with February 26 Incident

A
  • 1936 military revolt
  • Kodoha initiated an uprising of 1500 men and occupied Diet
  • Toseiha used incident to declare martial law, execute 19 leading rebels and dominate the army and country
  • Toseiha established Shintoism and nationalist/militarist ideas in schools
  • Toseiha began to exert greater control over economy as rearmament took place
40
Q

BJ Harrison’s quote on Military Seizure of Government with February 26 Incident

A

“It is from this point onwards that the civilian government was really in the hands of the military”

41
Q

Army’s Hostility towards the Zaibatsu

A
  • Zaibatsu were resented for corruption in party government and profitting during Great Depression
  • Seen as western
  • Zaibatsu were excluded from army’s economics in Manchuria
  • League of Blood assassinated the head of Mitsui, Takuma Dan, due to rural economic hardships in 1932
  • Military imposed control over zaibatsu’s financial and strategic decisions in 1930s
42
Q

Collapse of Party Politics

A
  • Parties were seen as against traditional Japanese values
  • Gained popularity after 1936 military revolt but failed to take control
  • Fell into demise after Toseiha took over
43
Q

Domestic Responses to Militarism in 1920s

A
  • Government took part in naval disarmament Washington Conference
  • Involved in League of Nations
  • PM Kato Takaaki (1924 – 1926) eliminated 4 army divisions, reduced military budget by 26% and removed 2000 officers from active duty who became conservative military instructors in school
  • Civilians, workers, politicians, educated groups, zaibatsu opposed militarism
  • Factions and militants viewed war as a necessity and had interest in dictatorship
44
Q

Domestic Responses to Militarism in 1930s

A
  • General population opposed February 26 Incident
  • Emperor Hirohito viewed war as a necessity
  • Nationalist propaganda led to support for militarism
  • Ultranationalists and rural communities supported militarism
  • 87 nationalist societies formed in 1931 and 196 in 1932, but only 1 in 1920
  • Linked militarism to Emperor for support
  • Represented traditional values
  • 50% budget spent on armed forces
  • Imperialist and militarist propaganda everywhere
  • Schools had military training and indoctrination
45
Q

Role of Emperor Hirohito in the Rise of Militarism

A
  • He covered up 1928 Tanaka Affair where Kwantung Army assassinated Chinese warlord and supported those wanting further aggression in China
  • Did not directly intervene in 1931 Manchuria Incident but warned army
  • Displayed lenience regarding army members that assassinated PM Tsuyoshi Inukai
  • Executed 19 officers involved in 1936 military revolt but did not completely intervene in the growing power of militarists
  • Approved request for more troops in 1937 invasion of China
46
Q

Paul Manning’s quote on the Role of Emperor Hirohito in the Rise of Militarism

A

“he plotted with his advisors the invasions of Manchuria and China, and the attack on Pearl Harbour”

47
Q

Stephen Large’s quote on the Role of Emperor Hirohito in the Rise of Militarism

A

He “opposed and tried to use his influence privately at court to prevent the acts of aggression”

48
Q

Aims and Strategy of Foreign Policy in the 1920s

A
  • Siberian Intervention 1918-22
  • Focus on improving foreign relations with Shidehara Diplomacy in 1924-27 under Minister of Foreign Affairs and later PM Shidehara
  • Opposed strengthening military
  • Foreign economic expansion through trade
  • Opposed territorial expansion
  • Nationalism grew with Washington Conference and racist US 1924 Immigration Act
49
Q

Aims and Strategy of Foreign Policy in the 1930s

A
  • Focused on expansionism due to Seiryoku-tozen (eastern advance of Western powers)
  • Wanted territorial gain for resources and markets (90% of Manchuria’s resources were coal and copper) and growing population (rose from 43.8 million to 69.2 million between 1900 and 1935)
  • Pan-Asianism and “Asia for the Asians”
  • Strategic occupation of neighbours to be defended from west
  • Prepared for war from 1936 onwards with 2x iron production, 15x oil imports and 66% increase in army divisions/artillery/planes
  • 1931 Manchuria Incident
  • Left League of Nations in 1933 and called it a “paper tiger”
  • Signed Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany in 1936
  • 1937 Marco Polo Bridge Incident
  • 1937-38 Nanjing Massacre
50
Q

Richard Mason’s quote on Aims and Strategy of Foreign Policy in the 1930s

A

“From the end of 1933, foreign policy was directed at securing Japan’s dominant position in East Asia”

51
Q

Ian Nish’s quote on Aims and Strategy of Foreign Policy in the 1930s

A

The army “believed that [China] … possessed economic potential”

52
Q

Phillip Beech’s quote on Aims and Strategy of Foreign Policy in the 1930s

A

“Manchuria was to serve as a market for industrial goods and food production”

53
Q

Impact of Ideology on Foreign Policy

A
  • Internationalism: diplomacy and peaceful relations in 1920s
  • Nationalism: emphasis on kokutai principles and militarism
  • Militarism: glorification of war and rural past, reinforced bushido
  • Imperialism: need for empire to accommodate population and its interests, expansionism
  • Social Darwinism: elevation of Japanese race above all others as being morally pure, selfless, devoted to tenno and his interests
  • Emperor ideology: devote one’s life to tenno and his interests, sacrifice for him
  • Shintoism: reinforce traditionalist ideas
  • Bushido: samurai moral code
  • Kokutai: Japanese national identity as an imperialist nation under emperor
  • Hakko ichiu: Japan’s right to unify the world and lead it
  • Pan-Asianism/“Asia for the Asians” led to Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
54
Q

Eri Hotta’s quote on Impact of Ideology on Foreign Policy

A

“Many Japanese Pan-Asianists … came to believe that Japan had a special mission to save weak Asia from Western domination.”

55
Q

Rachel Wall’s quote on Impact of Ideology on Foreign Policy

A

Education and propaganda centred on the emperor was used to convey Japanese “duty to rid East Asia of European and American influences”

56
Q

Andrew Gordon’s quote on Political Impact of the Great Depression

A

Zaibatsu were “profitting handsomely by selling out a country during a depression that was impoverishing everyone else”

57
Q

Kazusi Nagasu’s quote on Political Influence of the Zaibatsu

A

“By the 1920s power in Japan rested severely with the zaibatsu”

58
Q

Hirohito’s quote on the Role of Emperor Hirohito in the Rise of Militarism

A

“There have only been two occasions in which I took direct action … the Febuary 26 incident and other the end of the War”

Modern History (4 decks)

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