The era before and during World War 2 was the most decisive and eventful of Japanese history. After World War 1 Japan looked to expand their empire where they ended up with territories like Taiwan, Korea, Manchuria, and parts of northern China. Japan saw World War 1 as an advantage to take advantage of European countries destroyed from the war. They were able to use this to advance their economy by creating a trade surplus. Because of this Japan suffered less from the Great Depression than other industrialized nations. Japan was becoming more of a nation that believed in the military more than the citizens. So, you see a vast rise in militarism and militaristic leaders. The rise in this militarism was due to the Japanese looking to expand to new territories for more natural resources and to secure a economic independence. Japan was able to seize sugarcane in the Philippines, coal in China, petroleum from the Dutch Indies Burma, and tin and Bauxite from the Dutch East Indies and Malaya. So as you can see this time in. Japanese history was really based around expanding and militarism. The Japanese economy was vastly growing with this expansion era, until the Pacific war when the economy started to decline. After the war Japan and its territories were destroyed by money inflation and shortages in resources. This destruction brought the Japanese economy to a standstill. Most of Japan's gains since 1868 were wiped out. Japan's factories took a huge hit, with 40% of factories destroyed, it took 15 years to get back to the level of production before. The new factories were now equipped with the newest and best technology. This gave Japan an advantage over its competitors. Japan, even though being destroyed by war looked to rebuilding.... ... middle of paper ... ... gun to his chest and pulling the trigger. I'm sure he was thinking and hoping that he would end his life then and there. Some how he missed and his heart and wasn't killed. He was saved by American soldiers who took him to seek medical help. At this time, Tojo was accused of investigating Japan's foreign policy and the harsh abuse he used against prisoners in the war. Later on Tojo was found guilty of all the crimes he committed and was hung on December 23, 1948. As you can tell, Tojo's lived a pretty miserable last couple years of his life. Hideki Tojo was a very intelligent man just like his the person he admired the most, Adolf Hitler, but decided to use his talents for evil. The way Tojo wanted to direct the war led caused several problems on the world stage, especially with the United States. Which would then lead to nuclear warfare between the two countries.
The Korean War, also known as the forgotten war , was one of the most brutal and violent wars of the 20th century. Less than five million people died during this war. My grandfather, Herbert Victor Sapper, was drafted during the time of the Korean War, but, he wasn’t sent to Korea, he was sent to Japan. Since my grandfather passed away in 1995, I gathered all of my information about my grandfather from my grandmother, Lelia Bell Sapper. Here is their story.
Japanese soldiers were trained in all types of conditions to prepare for war. People in Japan grew up with very nationalistic ideals. Many were passionate for their country and would sacrifice anything for their Emperor, even their own lives. This concept was reinforced during many Japanese soldier trainings. They were taught to never give up or surrender to the enemy. At this point, dropping the atomic bomb was needed to end the war in the Pacific, as it is the only way to defeat the Japanese. As the Japanese are very prideful in ethics, a war would occur on Japanese soil if it were not for the bomb. Japanese men would fight American troops, and ultimately, the Japanese would win the battle (The 1). The attacks on Pearl Harbor exemplify their dedication towards the war. Moreover, one can see the extent of nationalism through the negative effects of the Kamikaze pilots. They sacrificed their own lives for the better¬ o...
American victory at Saipan on July 9. Japan surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, and nine days later Tojo attempted suicide by shooting himself in the chest, but he survived and was treated in the hospital. Condemned by the International Military Tribunal for crimes against humanity. He was found guilty of count 1 (waging wars of aggression, and war or wars in violation of international law), count 27 (waging unprovoked war against China), count 29 (waging aggressive war against the United States) count 31 (waging aggressive war against the British Commonwealth), count 32 (waging aggressive war against the Netherlands), count 33 (waging aggressive war against France (Indochina)), and count 54 (ordering, authorizing, and permitting inhumane treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) and others).
General Hideki Tojo was the Premiere of Japan. He and other Japanese leaders did not like the fact that Americans were sending war supplies to China and other countries in Asia. A surprise attack was ordered by Japan on December 7, 1941. The target was the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 360 planes bombed the naval base killing about 3,000 people and destroying many warships, aircraft carriers, and submarines. This was a catalyst that brought the United States into World War II.
European style cabinet system headed by a prime minister and a staff consistent of former samurai mostly, but shied from them in favor of a system of civil service examinations to qualify officials
This contrasted to the Ottoman Empire, which did not undergo such a revolution to become an industrialized society. In a state-guided industrialization program, Japan created modern infrastructure by creating railroads, postal systems, and national currency. Along with being a major exporter of textiles, munitions, industrial goods, newspapers, and electric lights were produced. The Ottomans were not able to create industrial economies to fend of European intrusion, and in turn, they depended on Europe. Japan was able to have a solid foundation for its industrial growth due to urban development that took place in the Tokugawa era. Different from the Ottoman Empire, Japan, in its time of peace, had become a fairly urbanized country with an educated population, leading into a burst of economic growth and commercialization. In contrast to the Ottoman Empire, Japan was able to experience industrialization due to the utilization of its own resources. The Ottomans, on the other hand, relied on foreign loans to support economic development. Unable to pay off these massive debts, Europe took control of its revenue-generating
Within a short period of time, Japan had caught up with many Western technologies; having established universities, founded telegraph and railroad lines, as well as a national postal system being created. Shipping and textile industries were a huge success an exports rose.
Hence, making the use of the nuclear bomb necessary, since the entire world had already seen how cruel the Japanese were with brutal war crimes that happen throughout the war and spread terror. Also it is important to mention the attack on Pearl Harbor which at the time the United States was no involved in the war at the time. The United States needed to make Japan surrender so that nothing like that would happen again to them or the rest of the Allies. The use of the atomic bomb aided the Allies in getting one step closer to ending the war, however, the use of the bomb had a lot of after effects. Hence, “the four-ton uranium bomb wreaked unprecedented havoc
After World War 1 Japan had a hard time adjusting to the new world. “While its economy was still primarily agricultural, rapid population growth (to over 80 million) had diminished the amount of land suitable for farming. Many people lived in small houses, lacking running water. In a nation about the size of California, only one of every six acres was farmland. This put great pressure on Japanese government to find more space and land for its people.” (America Enters World War II page 12). Japan attempted to change its agricultural-based economic system to an industrial based system. “But the international system of trade barriers and tariffs, established by the United States and other industrial powers to protect domestic manufacturing, hindered Japan’s industrial expansion.” (America Enters World War II page 13). Many of the materials Japan needed were found in neighboring countries that were controlled by European powers. Japan began to question it’s right to Asian markets and raw materials. “J...
Modern Japan: A Historical Survey focuses on the economic, political, and social developments by discussing how it shaped modern Japan. An example would be that he describes how the economical growth during the 50s and 60s have impacted social groups of people positively and how social groups have benefited from the rise of the economy. This is a secondary source and the audience are fellow scholars. This source was produced for the sake of analyzing how political, economical, and social developments have shaped modern Japan.
as well.8 The Meiji period was an important part of Japan's changing western ways. After World War II, Japan changed forever. With the Atomic bomb physically destroying their cities, and their defeat destroying their. imperialistic mentality, Japan was deeply wounded. Japan lost the respect of the world during the war and few people felt sorry for them....
For one, a huge part of Japanese society was based upon orderliness, self-sacrifice, discipline, and the warrior spirit. During World War II, these ideals, known as gaman, drove and empowered the Japanese military. However, this also caused them to adopt the mindset to never surrender or give up. As stated in the article Dropping the Bomb, “The only surrender acceptable to American leaders would be unconditional. The only surrender acceptable to the Japanese would include that they be allowed to keep their emperor.” Before dropping the atomic bomb, had the two countries attempted to agree upon surrender terms it would have been virtually impossible to reach an equally pleasing consensus. Also relayed in the article was that without the dropping of the atomic weapon, new evidence suggests the war would have continued for many more months. Despite the complete inability for the Japanese to make war, they would have kept fighting because of their belief in gaman. According to Sandra Nees, a foreign woman who spent time living in Japan, “This [gaman] is the psycho...
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a tremendous gamble — and though the short-term battle was successful, the long-range war was lost because the Japanese were wrong about the American reaction. Before Pearl Harbor there was another, earlier miscalculation. Ever since Commodore Perry's fleet opened Japan in 1853, in an era of great colonial expansion, the Japanese had watched the European powers dominate East Asia and establish colonies and trading privileges. China was carved up by Western powers establishing their spheres of influence on Chinese territory. Japan was quickly able to develop the economic and military strength to join this competition for dominance of the Asian mainland. When Japan defeated China in 1895 and Russia in 1905, in battles over Korea, then later joined the allies against Germany, Japan’s optic was framed for dominance in the region. The Japanese nation and its military, which controlled the government by the 1930s, felt that it then could, and should, control all of East Asia by military force. Domestic politics, ideology and racism also played a role in Japan’s prewar preparation. Since the interdiction of Western powers in 1853, the Japanese were treated like second citizens. The suppression and inequality throughout caused nationalism to rise up, giving Japan their voice. The Japanese were proud of their many accomplishments
...high power status, Japan had to have a self-reliant industrial common ground and be able to move all human and material resources (S,195). Through the Shogun Revolution of 1868, the abolition of Feudalism in 1871, the activation of the national army in 1873, and the assembly of parliament in 1889, the political system of Japan became westernized (Q,3). Local Labor and commercial assistance from the United States and Europe allowed Japan’s industry to bloom into a developed, modern, industrial nation (Q,3). As a consequence production surplus, and food shortage followed (Q,3). Because of how much it relied on aid of western powers, Japan’s strategic position became especially weak. In an attempt to break off slightly from the aid of the west Japanese leaders believed that it would be essential for Japan to expand beyond its borders to obtain necessary raw materials.
O'Bryan, Scott. 2009. Growth Idea : Purpose and Prosperity in Postwar Japan. University of Hawaii Press, 2009. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed December 4, 2011).