The Japanese Empire, 1894–1941

The Japanese Empire, 1894–1941

Emergence of Imperial Japan

  • Imperial Japan emerged with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, initiating a period of rapid westernisation and modernisation.
  • The oligarchy established the Tokyo Imperial University, reflecting a strong emphasis on education and technological advancement during the period.
  • Japan’s modernisation included strengthening its military might, increasing its economy, and reducing foreign influences.

Sino-Japanese War

  • Japan went to war with China in 1894 - the Sino-Japanese War - over the control of Korea.
  • With its newly modernised military, Japan emerged victorious, marking its arrival as a new world power.
  • As a result of the war, the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed in 1895, which recognised Korea’s independence and ceded the island of Taiwan to Japan.

Russo-Japanese War

  • Japan fought the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) over rival territorial claims in Manchuria and Korea.
  • Japan’s victory shocked the west, marking the first major triumph of an Asian power against a European nation.
  • The Treaty of Portsmouth concluded the war, with Japan annexing the South Manchurian railway, half of Sakhalin island, and the Kwantung leased territory on the Liaodong Peninsula.

Expansion and Imperialism

  • Japan joined the Allies during World War I, seizing German colonies in the Pacific and expanding its influence in China.
  • The Twenty-One Demands made to China in 1915 symbolised Japan’s aggressive expansionist foreign policy.
  • Japan continued to expand its empire, invading Manchuria in 1931, leading to the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo.

Road to World War II

  • The Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937 triggered the second Sino-Japanese War, an intensive invasion of China.
  • Japan signed the Tripartite Pact in 1940, joining the Axis Powers—Germany and Italy—marking a significant step towards global conflict.
  • The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 by the Japanese led to the USA entering World War II, marking the beginning of the Pacific War.

Cultural and Societal Changes

  • During this period, Japan’s societal structure shifted drastically with western influences injecting cultural and economic shifts.
  • Japan adopted a constitutional form of government, modelled after the German model with the Meiji Constitution in 1889.
  • Despite westernisation, traditional structures like the emperor remained crucial culturally. Emperor Meiji, Taishō, and the early reign of Shōwa (Hirohito) define these changes during this period.