Sino - Japanese

Warby Krystal Huang

As problems in Korea arose,

the neighboring countries Japan and China were called there to

help settle the dispute. A

rebellion in Korea had broken out against the King of Korea. At

the time when Japan and China had arrived to Korea to help calm

things, Korean forces had already

dealt with the rebellion. The two countries refused to withdraw

their troops from Korea, which caused a stalemate. It was until

J a p a n a n d C h i n a h a d

d i s ag reement s on Korea ’s government.

In Korea, China and Japan

and China argued about the government of Korea. Japan’s

prime minister, Ito Hirobumi, demanded changes in the Korean

government, which China had

turned down. Japanese troops, refusing to back down, seized the

king’s palace and made him

declare Korea independent from

China. The Japanese held the King captive until he was ordered

to sign an order that expelled the

Chinese. The Japanese Imperial Navy sank the Chinese troopship,

the Kowshing, two days later because it had attempted to bring

reinforcements into Korea.

Between the two countries, a state o f w a r a n d t e n s i o n w a s

established. Less then a year went by with ongoing victories fought

by the Japanese. The treaty of

Shimonoseki officially ended the war between the countries. With

this treaty, China recognized Korea as an independent state.

Japan had gained the Liaotung

Peninsula, Formosa, and the Pescadores Islands from the treaty.

Tension Between Japan and China

Japan Weekly

MEIJI ERA 1868-1912 THE MEIJI SPECIAL ISSUE ONE

S i n o - J a p a n e s e a n d R u s s o - J a p a n e s e W a r sD y i n g H e r o - S i n o - J a p a n e s e W a r , 1 8 9 4

Inside This Issue

‘rich country; strong military’

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Tension Between Japan and China pg 1-2

Victory Against Russia pg 2-3

Exclusive InterviewEditorial on Japanese Women Trade pg 4

Style Changes in Japan pg 2

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Sino - Japanese War

S i n o - J a p a n e s e a n d R u s s o - J a p a n e s e W a r sD y i n g H e r o - S i n o - J a p a n e s e W a r , 1 8 9 4

Pain Pills!!Are You in Pain and need cure?

Do you have body aches that won’t go away? Well this new pill will get rid of any ache!

Life Styleby Krystal Huang

Japan is quickly catching up with the west

The most recent styles are just coming into Japan! From morning coats to top hats, there are plenty of new clothes filling the most exclusive boutiques on these streets. Look below to find out more about these new fashions!

Morning Coat: Are you looking for something formal, et stylish to wear to a party or meeting? Well, this is the perfect thing! You not only have the black and white regulations, but you also have the neat and modern shape that gives you a perfect and snug fit.

Western Style Clothing: Flooding the streets are silks, satins, and cottons, all in styles that can be seen in places like A m e r i c a a n d Britain. Join in a n d s u p p o r t w e s t e r n s t y l e clothing.

Four new Chinese ports were

opened to Japanese trade in China and on top of the 200

million taels that were given to

Japan, they also gained the most-favored nation rights on China.

China and Japan had, for centuries, been enemies, but it

wasn’t until during the Meiji

Restoration that Japan was challenging it’s rival by becoming

the ancient Chinese ideal of a ‘rich country; strong military’.

Ja p a n ’ s s u c c e s s w a s a l s o

noticeable from Western powers after Japan had defeated China.

Western powers were surprised by how quickly Japan had mastered

the technique of modern warfare.

Victory Against Russia

By: Yuka Yurishima

Russia has been threatening

Japan’s interests in Korea. Russia

has been making it’s way into Asia as they had a railway that ran

across from Manchuria in China

to a Russian port. This for Japan was a threat. This was not the

only time Russia proved as a threat to Japan as Russia was also

part of the Triple Intervention

that took away the Liaotung Peninsula from Japan. Now,

Japan was worried about Russia’s expansion in the East.

With the Anglo – Japanese

alliance with Britain, Japan felt to be in a

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Victory Against Russiacontinuation

The Russia Japanese War in 1904-1905

Interviewby Krystal Huang Interview With Iko Osaki

Who is the head of a household in a typical Japanese family like yours?

I am a wife and a mother of two young boys. My husband died in the sino - japanese war a while back, so my eldest son has inherited the house and our money. I usually have to report to him when it comes to my financial spending. Usually, like my family, if the man of the house dies, the property usually is inherited by either the eldest son or another male relative.

Do you think it is fair that your son has more power over your property than you do?

Yes, I think that it is absolutely fair and normal. If I were to inherit the house, then it would be considered weird as usually women don’t own property. My only job is to cook and clean in our household. Women in our society are not regarded as powerful. Our job is to raise our children and take care of the house, but it has been very hard lately as we are having financial difficulties.

Tell me how you dealt with your financial difficulties with your husband being gone?

We were in great need for money and food. I needed some way to feed my sons. With my husband being gone, I have been having a hard time making money and taking care of my children. I had no where to turn so I was forced to sell my daughter for prostitution.

Do you think your daughter is living a better life than she would with you?

I haven’t seen my daughter since we sold her. She was fifteen years old, and I think she is doing fine. She is overseas in Singapore and she is not starving and we encourage her to stay there and continue making money for us. We do not consider this a bad thing.

strong position to oppose the

Russian expansion. Most of the Japanese leaders hoped for Russia

to recognize their special interests

and position in Korea. It was at an Imperial Conference in 1903 that

this hope was crushed. Japan made an offer with Russia that they

would recognize their interests in

Manchuria i f Russia would recognize Japan’s interests in

Korea. Russia had thought that Japan using Korea for ‘strategic

purposes’ would threaten their line

of communication, so they only agreed to part of the negotiation.

Japan’s interests in Korea were too strong to let Russia get in the way.

On February 8, 1904, Japan forces

attacked a Russian naval fleet at Port Arthur. War was declared two

days later. Russian troops were

driven out of Korea and Japan had

defeated Russia. The treaty of Portsmouth was established later

that was in Japan’s interests. The

Liaotung Peninsula was transferred back t o Japan and Rus s i a

surrendered its control of the South Manchurian Railway to

Japan. Japan also acquired the

southern half of the island of Sakhalin.

Japan continued to impress Western Nations as they proved

their strength in military and

warfare. Japan was the first Asian power that had beaten a strong

European nation. This defeat of Russia was an astounding victory

for Japan. They have once again

impressed the West with their power.

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Editorial on Japanese Women Tradeby Krystal HuangWhen  times  get  hard  in  Japan, impoverished peasant families often are forced  to  sell  their  daughters  into prostitution  for money.   These  families are  so  desperate  that  they  would actually  sell  their  daughters  into  this disgusting  industry.    Women  in  Japan are  not  respected  as  people;  they  are treated  just  as  an  item.    A woman  in Japanese  society plays  a  role  of  a  wife and  a  mother and  nothing  more.    The men  treat  the  women  as  an  item  that they  could  sell  off.    Prostitution  traps these women  into a life of working  in a brothel.   There  is no escape for them as they are  forced  to work to  repay depts.  Prostitution  is degrading  for women  as they  are  sold  as  items.    I  think  it  is  a disgusting  way  to  make  money  and must be stopped.  

Women in the Meiji period

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