Japan Vocabulary

Question 1

Sakoku

Answer 1

closed country, due to fear of Christian and western ideas

Question 2

Shogun

Answer 2

hereditary military leaders appointed by the emperor who had more power while working with the different classes of the society

Question 3

Diet

Answer 3

a public representative body of the government

Question 4

Black Ships

Answer 4

western steamboats that arrived in Japan and were used to threaten Japan and other Asian nations into complying with the US

Question 5

Treaty of Kanagawa

Answer 5

signed in 1854 between Japan and USA; opened trade with American vessels in some Japanese ports, protection for American sailors and vessels in Japan; Commodore Perry’s influence

Question 6

Meiji Restoration

Answer 6

“A rich country, strong military”; accelerated industrialization, rise of military power, imperial system replaced feudal system

Question 7

Zaibatsu

Answer 7

wealthy clique, huge corporations that dominated the Japanese economy and had deep ties with the military

Question 8

Sun Goddess

Answer 8

Amaterasu, imperial families were living gods, descendents of sun goddess

Question 9

Throwing off Asia

Answer 9

Japan wanted to be the superior, first class country, and dominate the rest of the Asian countries

Question 10

Article Five of the Charter Oath

Answer 10

Worldly knowledge should be sought, military training from Prussia

Question 11

Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors

Answer 11

official code of ethics for military to follow, respect civilians, lead simple lives, the modernized version

Question 12

Samurai Legacy/Bushido Code

Answer 12

code of ethics practiced by Samurai warriors; courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty, old fashioned

Question 13

Esprit-de-corps

Answer 13

the spirit of the body, strong regard for the honor of the group

Question 14

Treaty of Kanghwa/Japan-Korea Treaty of Amity

Answer 14

signed in 1876; Japan forced Korea into an unequal treaty via military ways, special rights to the Japanese people

Question 15

First Sino-Japanese War

Answer 15

1894-1895; conflict between China and Japan over influence in Korea and Manchuria

Question 16

Treaty of Shimonoseki

Answer 16

ended the first Sino-Japanese War, China was obliged to recognize Korea as an independent country and let go of all imperial ties with it

Question 17

Triple Intervention

Answer 17

Russia, France, and Germany required Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula to China

Question 18

Anglo-Japanese Alliance

Answer 18

between Britain and Japan; ended Japan’s diplomatic isolation

Question 19

Treaty of Portsmouth

Answer 19

ended the Russo-Japanese War; gave Japan Liaodong Peninsula, Theodore Roosevelt

Question 20

Twenty-One Demands

Answer 20

claims made by Japanese government to special privileges in China during WWI; the Twenty-one Demands marked the beginning of Japan’s rejection of the Western powers’ arrangements for dividing territory and power in China. The demands also helped to make Japan the primary target of Chinese nationalists

Question 21

Racial Equality Clause

Answer 21

Japan wanted to add a racial equality clause to the League of Nations; rejected by USA and Britain, reminded Japan of its standing with Western countries

Question 22

Washington Treaty System

Answer 22

The treaties that Japan signed to limit its power with the west

Question 23

Four Power Treaty

Answer 23

this ended the Anglo-Japanese Alliance; The USA, Britain, France, and Japan were to confer if their rights or possessions are threatened

Question 24

Nine Power Treaty

Answer 24

Nine countries agree to all use China’s resources without overdoing it and let no country have too much power

Question 25

Five Power Naval Treaty

Answer 25

limited the tonnage of the US, British, Japanese, French, and Italian navies (5:5:3)

Question 25

Kellogg-Briand Pact

Answer 25

war is not the solution to conflicts and they should be solved through peaceful means

Question 26

Taisho Democracy

Answer 26

limit the military's power Liberal policies implemented under Emperor Taisho Japan joined the League of Nations (1920) Permanent member, prominent position Prime Minister position awarded based on experience, not status In 1925, the Electorate was extended to all adult males Rise in mass media, more open/transparent society

Question 27

Takashi Hara

Answer 27

Prime Minister (1918-21) Was the first PM to be an elected member of the Diet, “The Great Commoner” Rose to power as a result of the 1918 Rice Riots Moderate, who emphasized cultural freedom Start of Taisho Democracy Tried to limit the influence of the military, assassinated

Question 28

Shidehara Kijuro

Answer 28

Ambassador to Washington in 1921, Foreign Minister (1924-27) & (1929-31) Developed a foreign policy of internationalism Emphasis on economic development, peacefully Good relations with the US Legal advancements in China

Question 29

Peace Preservation Law

Answer 29

1925 - Peace Preservation Law Clamped down on opposition to political structure Contradicted extension of the Electorate Targeted communists party

Question 30

Smoot-Hawley Tariff

Answer 30

80% of the silk market was lost, due to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act which increased taxes on all products, it was the leading export

Question 31

Kwatung Army

Answer 31

Following the Russo-Japanese War, Japan took control of South Manchuria Railway was managed by Kwantung garrison Kwantung was rooted in Koda-ha “Imperial Way” faction, advocating for a military dictatorship with aggressive expansion Plotted the assassination of the Manchurian warlord, Zhang Zuolin Japan backed Zhang but he was causing rifts with GMD and threatened loss of influence in Manchuria Carried out in 1928, acted without government consent

Question 32

Dark Valley

Answer 32

1932 - Growing divisions in military over power Groups fight for control of military Disagreed over the extent needed to overthrow the government Three events destabilized the government May 1932 - army/navy officers attack banks and Tokyo police headquarters, PM Inukai shot and killed May 1932-July 1934 - Admiral Saito favored radicals but a plan to assassinate him was uncovered, he turned July 1934 - General Nagata (Tosei-ha leader) was killed, killer was tried and executed

Question 33

Imperial Way Faction

Answer 33

leader was Kodo-ha, wanted military dictatorship with emperor through any means, can be violent; did not want any relations with USSR

Question 34

Control Faction

Answer 34

leader was Toseiha, wanted militarism through peaceful means, wanted good relations with USSR

Question 35

May 15th Incident

Answer 35

1932; army/navy officers attacked banks and Tokyo police headquarters, PM Inukai shot and killed

Question 35

Mukden Incident

Answer 35

September 18, 1931 Explosion on the Japanese-owned South Manchurian Railway Chinese nationalists accused, it was actually the Kwantung army PM Wakatsuki ordered “non-expansion of hostilities” Kwantung army had already moved into the countryside

Question 36

Manchukuo

Answer 36

Japan set up puppet state in Manchuria, renamed it as Manchukuo, public support celebrated Kwantung Army as heroes, the government lost upper hand and gave up

Question 37

New Order is East Asia

Answer 37

November 1938; union declared between Japan, Manchukuo, and China to end war

Question 38

Lytton Commission

Answer 38

fact-finding commission sent to investigate the cause of Japan's invasion of Manchuria; led by Lord Lytton; took several months to arrive

Question 39

Marco Polo Bridge Incident

Answer 39

July 1937; battle between China and Japan border troops; took Beijing and were fighting in Shanghai, devastating attacks and air rides

Question 40

Second Sino-Japanese War

Answer 40

Not a war that the army General Staff wanted Wanted to fight Russia Huge advantages over China, but China refused to agree to peace terms Stretched Japan’s supply lines as they went deeper into China November 1938, union declared between Japan, Manchukuo and China, “New Order in East Asia” Hoping this would end the war A war that couldn’t be won Japan surrenders in 1945

Question 41

Rape of Nanking

Answer 41

Japan's attack on China's civilians

Question 42

Stimson Doctrine

Answer 42

The US would ignore any treaty or agreement between Japan and China that violated the treaties

Question 43

Tripartite Pact

Answer 43

links to Germany, Italy, and Japan ensured that if US attacked, they would all help each other; US saw this as one war

Question 44

Soviet-Japanese Non-Aggression Pact

Answer 44

Russia and Japan could both expand more without having issues with each other

Question 45

Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

Answer 45

Japan's attempt to form an economic and military bloc consisting of nations within East and Southeast Asia against Western colonization and manipulation, but it failed because of Japan's inability to promote the mutual prosperity to the alliance