Japan and the Pacific Rim

Beginning of 20th C. Japan pushed for military and diplomatic gains.

Expansionist power—Annexed Korea in 1910—extracting taxes and raw materials from its colonies in return for industrial goods

Lags behind West. Relies on cheap labor and limited # of exports

Zaibatsus, expanded into shipbuilding and metallurgy. But economy dependent on foreigners

Japan and the Pacific Rim

Japanese gain a higher standard of living as urban society develops.

Education advances and population grows which hampers living standards

Suffers briefly from the Great Depression as exports boom and military spending increases

Militarism

Political problems led to WW II Oligarchy leads to military leaders

seizing lead Seize Manchuria in 1931 Nationalist groups emerge to support

the military

Militarism

Coup attempts by young officers in 1932 and 1936 gave the military a stronger influence in government

Leads to militarist prime ministers under General Tojo

Develops into a regional empire. Korea, Manchuria and Taiwan.

Pacific Rim

Korea—Japan creates resentments and don’t develop the economy

Abolish Korean monarchy, exploited economically and culturally– Implement Japanese culture– And exploit the country’s resources

Peasantry forced to produce rice to export to Japan

Pacific Rim

Singapore (Chinese population) used as a British naval base and commercial seaport– Suffered greatly from Japanese occupation– After WW II has high unemployment and

poverty

Pacific Rim

Korea divided into Russian and American occupation zones

Taiwan was occupied by Chiang Kai-shek’s Chinese government

USA and Europe temporarily reoccupy their colonial possessions

Japan occupied by USA, peacefully evolved a new political structure

Pac Rim states become stable noncommunist nations tied to the West

Japanese Recovery

Recovers quickly USA occupation ends in 1952 Military disbanded and democratization

introduced– Defense left to the USA– Parliament—civil liberties– Emperor—figure head– Two strong political parties

Social service obligation to elderly, recognition of traditional values

Japanese Recovery

Women received right to vote, unions encouraged and Shintoism abolished as state religion

Educational system—one of the best in the world