Sino-Japanese War: 1894-95• Tonghak rebellion in Korea
– Korean government brings in Chinese help– Japan asserts and shows right to join China
• China and Japan clash in Korea
• Japan wins handily• Demands: Taiwan, the Pescadores, and the
Laodung Peninsula.
Triple Intervention
• Germany, France and Russia– Insist that Japan was too greedy– Japan must give up
Laodung Peninsula
• Russia takes over
Japan’s role on
Laodung Peninsula
Triple Intervention
Japan learns: • We’re not there yet• Westerners still don’t respect us
Japan’s response:
• We need to get richer, strongerFukoku Kyohei!!
Russo-Japanese War: 1904-05
• Negotiations over Russia’s and Japan’s roles in Korea and Manchuria break down
• Japan withdraws ambassador from Moscow– Launches all-out, surprise attack on Russia’s Pacific
fleet in harbor at Vladivostok
Russo-Japanese War: 1904-05
• Japan attacks Russia’s Pacific fleet in harbor at Vladivostok– Decimates Russian Pacific
Fleet – in port
– Quickly defeats Russia– Assumes primary control over Korean and
Manchurian economic interests
Japanese Motivation:Why expansion and aggression?
• Vulnerability: Japan is small and vulnerable– Triple intervention proved Japan must demand respect;
must earn respect
• Expanding population needed food supply stability
• Expanding industry needed raw materials and markets
• The ONLY Solution???
Fukoku Kyohei!!
Meiji EraJapanese Industry
• Zaibatsu: Japan’s major, family owned conglomerates– Largely built from Tokugawa era merchant
fortunes or Daimyo estate fortunes– Single-family, wholly owned firms– Diversified product lines
Zaibatsu Labor System• Lifetime employment
– No layoffs– No firing– No changing firms for promotion– Loyalty above all else
• Seniority– Strict, lock-step advancement and salary scale– Investment in employee training
Zaibatsu Labor System• Labor Unions
– Company Union – not craft union– Focus on sustainability and accommodation– Flexibility in job descriptions
• Company as a family– Company clinic– Company resort– Company entertainment– Company retirement
Japan Continues to Expand
• Annex Korea: 1910– Korea as a Japanese province– Koreans as Japanese – sort of
– Northern Korea – Like Manchuria provides natural resources, lumber, ore, manufacturing
– Southern Korea – Like Taiwan, provides food, especially rice
Japan Expands
• WW I: 1914• Japan enters on British, U.S. side
– Moves on German interests in Asia– 21 Demands on China (Jan. 1915)
• Effectively: China accepts tributary status behind Japan
• China rejects 21 Demands– Washington, Pres. Wilson, rejects 21 Demands
• Upholds Chinese Sovereignty• Japanese see this as persecution of Japan
Domestic Politics:Taisho DemocracyNew Emperor Taisho: 1912-1926
• New era of domestic politics– From Oligarchs to Genro (elder statesmen)– Party Government
• Cabinet unofficially selected by Diet through party nominations (like in Britain)
Domestic Politics:Taisho Democracy
• Expansion of the franchise– Universal male suffrage 1926
• Freedom of Press
• Freedom of Speech
• Recognition of political parties
• Human rights and democracy movements emerge
Taisho DemocracyFlounders
Economic slowdown (precursor to Great Depression) hits Japan @1925
• Difficult economic times unsettle emerging democracy
• Zaibatsu leaders fear loss of resources and markets
• Military/Zaibatsu alliance emerges
Taisho Democracy FloundersSigns of reasserted authoritarian control:1925-27• Peace Preservation Act 1926 reigns in “excesses”
of free press and free speech• Military disrupts cabinet by withholding ministers• Campaign of political assassinations decimates
“liberal” ranks of politicians and government officials
• Imperial decree on education re-emphasizes Amaterasu and Divinity of the Emperor– Military ethics system reinvigorated
through schools– Japan’s special role as leader of Asia
becomes standard doctrine in schools
Taisho Democracy Undone
International Events disrupting Taisho Democracy
• WW I: 1914 – Military reinvigorated• 1915: 21 Demands on China
– Begin occupation of Manchuria– US President Wilson Supports Chinese
Sovereignty• 1921: Washington Treaty – Naval Arms Control
– 5:5:3 – Japan gets DISrespected• 1924: US – Japanese Exclusion Act• 1925 economic crisis strikes
– Leads to 1929 Depression
Taisho Democracy UndoneTaisho Democracy Collapses 1926• Taisho Emperor dies• Showa Emperor emerges
International and domestic crises emphasize• Japan’s smallness• Japan’s vulnerability
Japan’s military-industrial alliance combines with Bureaucrats to reassert control
Refocus nation’s efforts on… you guessed it…
Fukoku Kyohei!• Emphasis on military• Emphasis on economic independence
– Capture natural resources through colonies– Capture markets through colonies– Keep building strong manufacturing base
• Establish domestic order by:– Silencing “chaos” of democratic opposition– Unifying government -- assassinate liberals
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