Changes in Japan

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Changes in Japan
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Background Meiji Restoration 1868 -end the rule
of Tokugawa Shogunate -power was in hands of
Oligarchs -started the Meiji Modernization 1868
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Meiji Modernization 1868 -slogans Rich country,
Strong Army, Colonization and Industry
Civilization and Enlightenment -carried out
reforms-constitutional, Economic, education,
military, legal reforms -very successful-Japan as
the Britain in The East
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20th Century-Political Condition
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• 1. A constitutional monarchy mixed
• with Japanese traditions
• Emperor
• Army navy
• Genro
• The Privy Council
• Diet-House of Peers House of
• Representatives
• Prime minister Cabinet

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The Meiji Constitution 1889 -Ito Hirobumi
mission -Prussian model with monarchy as
the Focus -practised until 1945 -study the chart
on p.197
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(No Transcript)
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Comment on Meiji Constitution -many
shortcomings! 1. Emperor enjoyed too much power
2. Genro (elder statesmen) retained control Over
policies through giving advice to Emperor.
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• 3. Diet was powerless. The House of Peers
• Was dominated by genros.
• 4. There was
• limited suffrage (2 only men paying tax
• Could vote)
• 5. The prime minister was responsible to
• The emperor
• Superficially democratic gave rise
• To crises in 1912-3.

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The Taisho Political Crisis 1912-3 Background -r
ise of middle educated class -ideas of liberty
and democracy popular -Organic Theory Theory
of Universal Manhood Suffrage emerged
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Organic Theory -the emperor was an
organ -government should be responsible to that
Organ, but the government responsible To the
citizens.
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Theory of Universal Manhood Suffrage -Universal
Suffrage League -general election to the
cabinet -vetoed by House of Peers (Genro) the
League was dismantled in 1921.
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The Crisis -Taisho became the new emperor -the
prime minister rejected the military Ministrys
request for increased military Spending. -Army
minister resigned, prime minister Resigned new
cabinet dissolved. -Katsura Taro (warlord) was
appointed As the New prime minister and formed a
New Cabinet.
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Opposition to Katsura -public political parties
Movement To Protect Constitutional
Government Called Katsura to resign. -Katsura
urged Taisho to issue an edict To suppress the
opposition. -the Diet condemned Katsura and
was Suspended. -When the Diet reopened, 6000
people Supported the Diet. Katsura dissolved
The Diet.
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-The Diet cast non-confidence vote Against the
prime minister. -Unable to pacify the mass,
Katsura Resigned and his cabinet dissolved.
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• Significance of Taisho Crisis
• First time the prime minister
• And cabinet was overthrown by mass-gt
• Saw the importance of mass support to the
• Cabinet.
• 2. Saw the importance of army-gtaffect the
• Cabinet without its support.? rise
• Of armypolitical status and rise of
• Militarism in Japan in the 1930s.

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2. Rise of political parties -industrialization-gt
industrialists professionals, middle class
intellectuals discontented with fake
democracy -many oligarchs died -world democratic
trend -Hara Kei the first civilian prime
minister responsible for the Diet. -1920s, party
rule
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3. Foreign policies expansions -for raw
materials overseas market -not very
aggressive -1900-Allied Expedition,
1902-Anglo- Japanese Alliance, 1904-Russo-Japanese
War, 1910-colonized Korea -1914-WWI-Shandong
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20th Century- Diplomatic Condition
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• The Anglo Japanese Alliance 1902
• Motives of Japan
• Revenge Liaodong after the
• Triple Interventionin 1895 (Sino-
• Japanese War)
• 2. Conflict with / Threat from Russia in
• Korea and Manchuria
• 3. Strengthened her power against Russia
• In the future.

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• Motives of Britain
• Needed an ally to protect her interest
• In China and to check Russia in the Far
• East.
• 2. Found being isolated in Europe
• Triple Entente Triple Alliance 1897
• 3. Challenge from Germany

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• Significance of the Alliance
• To Britain
• Ended her isolation policy
• Got an ally
• To Japan
• Dared to challenge Russia with strong
• Backing-gtsped up Russo-Japanese War.
• 2. Raised Japans international status
• first alliance between an Asia and
• A European country

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• The Russo-Japanese War 1904-5
• Events leading to the war
• The Russian Expansion of Manchuria-endangered the
  interest of Japan
• The Anglo-Japanese Alliance 1902
• Battle of Tsushima Straits

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• Treaty of Portsmouth
• -no indemnity was paid
• -signed with the mediation of Roosevelt
• -p.204
• Significance
• Impact on Japanrising status
• Impact on Russiagreat humiliation-
• 1905 Russian Revolution
• 3. Impact on Chinasuffered most
• 4. Impact on Korea---became independent
• more likely under Japans conquest

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The First World War 1914 -an ally of
Britain -consolidated her world power
status -occupied the German base in Shandong
Jiaozhou Bay/ Act to revenge on Germany in
Triple Intervention in 1895.
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The Twenty One Demands 1915 -with Yuan Shikai -5
groups (notes) -Britain US protested-gtJapan
deleted 5th group. -Yuan accepted in return for
Japans support to his monarchical
Movement -Japan replaced Britain as the most
influential power in China.
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Group 1 transfer of German rights in Shandong
to Japan Group 2 special interests in
Manchuria And Mongolia Group 3 Mining rights in
Changjiang Valley Group 4 no cession or lease of
Chinese Coastal territories to any power Group 5
Japanese interference into Chinas internal
affairs
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• Secret Alliances with other powers 1916-7
• To keep Japan on the side of Triple
• Entente
• Russia recognized 21 Demands
• Britain France recognized her interests
• In Shandong and in ex-German colonies
• 3. US signed Lansing Ishii Agreement ,
• Not to oppose Japanese special claims
• In China

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• Paris Peace Conference 1919
• Significance on Japans diplomatic status
• The powers agreed to transfer the
• Rights in Shandong to Japan. The ex German
• Pacific Island became the mandated territory
• Of the League of Nations, under the control of
• Japan.

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2. She became a respected member of
International community. Japan was Recognized
as one of the permanent Members of the League.
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Washington Conference 1921 Why? -settle the
problem in East Asia -develop a new order of
peace in East Asia -deal with the Shandong
problem -set up a new balance of power -end the
Japanese-American naval arms race -terminate the
Anglo-Japanese Alliance
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Four Power Pact (text) Five Power Pact Nine
Power Pact
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Result -limit the number and tonnage of its
capital ships -observe the open-door policy of
the US on China -not to renew the Anglo-Japanese
Alliance -agreed to respect the integrity of
China and Withdraw troops from Shandong.
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Impact on Japan -Her expansion was temporarily
checked -attack on the weak-kneed diplomatic
policy -paved for the rise of militarist
government
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20th Century-Social Condition
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• Think About?
• What do you think of the condition of
• The following in early 20th century
• Freedom
• Freedom of women
• Education standard
• Urbanization
• Workers condition

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• Background
• No class division shogun-daimyo-
• Peasants-artisans-merchants
• 2. Highest rate of literacy-gtmiddle
• Educated class
• 3. Rising status of women
• 4. Urge for democracy

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C. Social Conditions 1. A society of limited
freedom -Peace Preservation Law to suppress any
ideas that threatened the reign of the
emperor. 2. Higher education standard in
Asia -1907, 6 years of education -school system
of primary, secondary and universities.
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3. Rapid urbanization and great differences
between cities and villages -big industrial
cities, e.g Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, etc. 4.
Poor livelihood and social unrest -workers
(cotton mill) tenant peasants (land tax
4-17.5 in R-J War time)
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Examples of Social Movements
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The Rice Riot 1918 -governments policy favoured
Zaibatsu -mass protested against the increase in
the Price of rice -showed the power of mass
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The Labour Organization -Suzuki Bunji, Christian
socialist formed Friendly Society in 1921,
advocating Harmonious relationships between
Employers and employees. -By 1918, number of
members rose to 30000.
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-after 1919, more labour organizations Rose. -the
capitalists and government suppressed Them -they
became more radical. -Friendly Society was
split into two factions And renamed as Japan
Federation of Labour in 1921.
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The Womens Movement -1911, Bluestocking
Society magazine Bluestocking To spread idea
of womens liberation. -Three key actresses
gained popularity And changed the old concepts.
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-1920, New Womens Association was Formed
magazine Womens Union. They asked for
amendment to Article 5 To allow women joining
political parties And activities. -it was finally
dissolved.
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• The Taisho Democratic Movement
• -divided into two camps political parties
• the popular movement and its leaders
• -1924, unified under the Kato cabinet
• 1925 General Election Law allowed
• The proletarian party to participate in
• Elections.

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20th Century-Economic Condition
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Background -Meiji Modernization-Industrial
Development -mainly government run industries
and Light industries -later the government sold
the non- Military industries to private
enterprises At low prices, e.g. Mitsubishi,
Yasuda, Mitsui, Sumitomo, etc.
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B. Economic Conditions 1. Economic ups
downs -economic ups downs related with foreign
wars -victories--financial problems/ overspending-
-issued bonds and increased taxes. Tax
increased by 50 in R-J War and by 100 in
second year.
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-After R-J War, Japan seized railway and mining
rights in Manchuria--angered Chinese--boycott
Japanese goods. -During WWI, occupied Shandong
and controlled railways dominated the chinese
market and sold necessities to the western powers.
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-After WWI, entered dark age during the 1920s
Great Depression 1929 (silk export
dropped)--unemployment
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2. Rapid Industrialization -benefits from the
victories in S-J R-J War Korea, Manchuria
Taiwan -foreign land brought sufficient food
supply and lessened the demand for food. -helped
develop light industry raw materials and
market. E.g. silk export and Japanese cotton.
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-helped heavy industry mining and
railway rights, production of warships
and steamships, sea transport, shipbuilding
and chemical industries. -enterprises increased
from 400 (1868) to 8000 (1903) --gtJapan became
industrialized country.
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3. Further extension of the influence of
Zaibatsu -the government had sold most
industries (non strategic) to Zaibatsu.
-Zaibatsu developed capital intensive industries
such as finance, trade or transport, etc. -By
1913, 75 of industrial commercial capital was
controlled by Zaibatsu.
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Monopolized Capitalism Think about? Suggest
one form of monopolized Services in Hong
Kong. First Bus, Kowloon Motor Bus, City Bus
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-20th century industry focused on heavy
Industry, military industries and
the Nationalization of railways. -WWI, Japan
increased its export and earn Foreign profits.
Monopolized Capitalism Emerged.
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• Characteristics of Capitalism in
• Japan
• The rise of privileged capitalists
• -colluded with the government to get
• Protection
• -had great influence in industrial
• Development.

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2. Limited Scope of heavy industry -heavily
depended on foreign technology -light industry
textile industry overtook The heavy
industry. 3. The focus on capitalism and
military Industry -because industry was driven by
national Capital and external wars.
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4. The basis of semi-feudal agriculture -signified
the exploitation of labour class And serious
disconnection between industry And
agriculture. -but it guaranteed a cheap labour
force.
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Significance of Monopolized Capitalism 1.it led
to emergence of Zaibatsu 2. It affected the life
of peasants/ agrarian Industry became
undervalued. It Brought poverty and Weakening of
peoples purchasing power. 3. Domestic market had
no room for Expansion? economic fear and downturns
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Japanese economy in after WWI -Japan exported
the products to developing Countries, US
Europe. -Military supplies to Britain and Russia
Increased. -Shipping and shipbuilding industries
grew. -Light industries, machinery
industry, Chemical industry developed. .
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Outcome -3rd largest shipping country in
1919. -steel production increased by 7 times
Electricity increased by 2.8 times. -light
industry accounted for 70 of the National
economy.
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20th Century-CulturalCondition
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Background -consequence of political reform
Affluence of capitalism -learnt the western
culture believed In the importance of
traditional values And ideas. Rokumeikan -develo
ped science and humanities
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Think about? What is the traditional values of
The Japanese? (How did we view their Emperor?
Did they love western culture?) What is their
traditional religion?
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1. Preservation and traditional
cultures -confucian beliefs such as loyalty to
the emperor, filial piety to parents -Shintoism -n
ationalism (details) in Imperial Rescript on
Education 1890 National Textbook System
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2. Absorption of western culture Why? -western
education -magazines newspaper -affected their
way of clothing, architecture.
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The promotion of national loyalty -the idea of
loyalty and obedience Belief in traditional
ideas and values -1886, the ministry of education
decreed The school based on nationalism. -1890,
The Imperial Rescript on Education goodness,
righteousness, piety and loyalty
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-1907, compulsory education to 6 years. -higher
education expanded.
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Achievements in Humanities Achievements in
Science END
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Concluding Remarks 1920s how to be equal such
power as the US in terms of national strength or
even to surpass her? joining the families of
European nations 1930s becoming better than
Britain and the US
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-1932, Takahashis progressive financial Policy-ex
panding armaments and military Production-focused
on heavy and military Industry -1933, Japan
withdrew from League and Occupied north-eastern
part of China.
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2. Initiation of the Pacific War and invasion of
SE Asia -isolated China to cut off military back
up from Indochina -natural resources, e.g. tin,
oil -Attack on Pearl Harbour
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Entry into the WWII -1941 Dec 7, attack on Pearl
Harbour ?brought the US into the war. -dropping
of atomic bombs on 6, 9 Aug 1945. -Japan
surrendered on 15 Aug 1945