Modern JapanModern Japan• By 1900 Japan became a modern

industrial nation

• Tradition of self-sacrifice and hard work

• Schools, newspapers, factories, military

• With industrialization, came a need for raw materials like coal, iron, oil…

Russo-Japanese War

• 1904-05 Japan and Russia go to war over access to Manchuria for coal and iron

• Japan wins and shocks the world community

Japan in World War 1

• Japan on Allied side of WW1

• Gains former German territory in China…looked at China as a source of raw materials, and a market for Japanese goods

• Racist toward them

The aggression continues…

• 1930’s radical Japanese politicians argued to continue imperialism…took more of China in 1931 (Manchuria)

• 1931 Manchuria P.M. Hideki Tojo• 1937 China

– “Rape of Nanking”– Leaflets promised good treatment…

~300,000 murdered• Many atrocities committed against

Chinese…Japanese textbooks ignore and Japanese government still has not properly apologized

http://encarta.msn.com/media_461543987/Imperial_Japan.html

World War 2

• 1940…Japan joins the Axis powers (Germany and Italy)

• Japan take Indochina…Vietnam• Japan takes Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia• Orders given by General Tojo• USA cuts off trade of vital oil…sparks attack on

Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941• 8 battleships and 2,500 dead, USS Arizona

stands as a memorial• USA fought WW2 on two fronts…Europe and

Pacific

1945

• April 1945 Germany surrenders, Japan does not

• August 6, 1945 USA drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima (80,000 dead) and Nagasaki 3 days later (40,000 dead)

• Hundreds of thousands more are poisoned with radiation

• Origin of Godzilla movies of the 1960’s• August 14th, Japan surrenders and is

occupied by the USA• Southeast Asia still resentful over WW2,

even though reparations paid.

Occupation of Japan 1945-1952

• Millions of Japanese dead from war, Japanese cities bombed, foreigners occupied Japan for first time in history

• General Tojo and others tried as war criminals

• Emperor Hirohito exonerated, but stripped of his powers

Emperor Hirohito

• “Under the weight of winter snow, the branches bend but do not break”

• Lives until 1989 and he was right…Japan recovered and became an economic superpower

Blue-Eyed Shogun

• American occupation deeply affected Japan-American general Douglas MacArthur oversees

• Blue-eyed Shogun!!!• 1947 they help write a new constitution• Parliamentary democracy• Diet holds the power…congress• Women vote for the first time• Bill of rights, press speech religion• Militarism caused aggression, so military now limited-

national and coast guards-renouncing war-with the promise of protection by the US military

Pacifism

• Officially pacifist…renounce war

• Little spent on defense…spent on rebuilding economy

• With China in 1949 turning to communism and N.Korea in 1953, Japan became an ally instead of former enemy

• Encouraged Japan to rearm…

• Currently have a role in Iraq

1952-1980’s

• 1952 US turns power back over to the Japanese• Japan continued tradition of hard work, loyalty,

discipline, and harmony• Democracy set up by the USA continues• 1980’s economic superpower • “Economic Miracle”…sold supplies for Korean

War, rapid recovery also due to being able to start from scratch with newest technology in 1960’s

• Leading shipbuilder, technology/electronics

Japanese Auto Industry• 1973 OPEC Embargo oil crisis forced Japanese

to develop fuel efficient cars …set standard• Mitsubishi, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Nissan,

Acura, Suzuki• Trade imbalance…Japan exports more than it

imports…Favorable trade imbalance• Economic nationalism• Move to a green philosophy/nuclear energy,• Much loyalty to firm, often working for entire

career• Women still struggling for status in workplace…

30% office ladies

Graying of Japan

• Many Japanese still have only one child, not by law

• Value on education…school 6 days a week, + juku… Kumon…legacy of Confucianism!

• Aging population an issue

• Declining population

Sayonara