The Making of Japan Flashcards
The radioactive materials leaked by the damaged nuclear reactors after the major Japan earthquake in 2011 contaminated not only their immediate environs, including nearby farms and their produce and seawater in the area adjacent to the plant, but even tap water at locations as far away as Tokyo. True or False
True
Similar to the United States, the judges on the Japanese Supreme Court serve for life to keep them above the political fray. True or False
False
Japan is richly endowed with natural resources, particularly coal and metal ores. True or False
False
Ancient and medieval Japan imported not only large amounts of material goods from their neighbors, but also wide-ranging forms of culture, such as religion, literature, law, architecture, and fine arts. True or False
True
Bushi (samurai) were the merchant class in medieval Japan. True or False
False
The largest financial and industrial conglomerates were divided into a number of independent firms under the democratization program during the postwar occupation but were later revived. True or False
True
Under the Tokugawa shogunate period, the emperor maintained the real political and economic power in Japan. True or False
False
Tokugawa Japan was an open society, encouraging regular contacts with foreign governments. True or False
False
Led by a young heir to the imperial throne, over the next fifty years the Meiji Restoration was able to transform a feudal state into a major industrial and military power. True or False
True
The Meiji government introduced a national public education system, composed of primary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions. True or False
True
In actual practice, it was the oligarchy of the emperor’s senior advisors who exercised the power under Meiji. True or False
True
The political power and influence of the military grew steadily throughout the Meiji-Taisho era. True or False
True
Although the military has played a profound role in Japanese history, unlike many underdeveloped countries where the armed forces have had little respect for civilian rule, there has never been an attempted coup in that country. True or False
False
In spite of the fact that Japan has behaved as an aggressor nation up until the end of World War II, it steadfastly avoided civilian targets. True or False
False
General MacArthur banned unions and union organizing during the Japanese occupation for fear of the spread of communism. True or False
False
For the first time in Japanese history women were given the right to vote during the U.S. occupation. True or False
True
Despite Article 9 of the Japanese constitution permanently creating a pacifist nation and renouncing war, the Self-Defense Forces have grown into one of the largest and best-equipped military forces in the world. True or False
True
The experience of the 1960 political crisis taught the LDP to avoid tackling controversial issues and concentrate on economic problems. True or False
True
On March 11, 2011 Japan was hit by one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in human history of a magnitude of: a) 7.2, b) 8.1, c) 9.0, d) 9.8
c) 9.0