The Evolution of Japan in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

Introduction

• First moving images filmed in Japan after Thomas Edison introduced technology a year earlier.
• Japan transitioning from isolation to modernization.

Historical Context

• Takeshi Endo's Reflection:
  • Remembers life before Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu.
  • Rapid changes post-Tokugawa era.
• End of Tokugawa Shogunate (1868):
  • Restoration of Emperor Meiji.
  • Japan becomes a commercial and cultural fascination for the West.

Japan's Military Expansion

• War against China (1894):
  • Dispute over Korea leads to conflict.
  • Japan defeats China, leading to Treaty of Shimonoseki (April 1895):
    • China recognizes Korea's independence.
    • Taiwan ceded to Japan.
• Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905):
  • Japan's 3rd Army prepares to attack Port Arthur.
  • General Nogi leads troops to victory against Russian forces.
  • Admiral Togo defeats the Russian Baltic Fleet at Tsushima.
  • Japan gains global recognition as a military power.

Changes in International Relations

• Bolshevik Revolution (1918):
  • Japan participates in Allied expeditionary force in Siberia to secure Trans-Siberian Railway.
  • Relations with the United States and European powers shift.

Japanese Rule in Korea

• Annexation of Korea (1910):
  • Suppression of Korean culture and exploitation of resources continues for 35 years.
• Growing resentment towards Western influence and immigration policies.

Rising Nationalism and Military Actions

• Manchuria (1931):
  • Nationalist military factions ignite conflict, leading to the Mukden Incident.
  • Occupation leads to establishment of Japanese puppet state "Manchukuo".
• Economic and Social Context:
  • Economic turmoil following the Great Depression.
  • Rise of ultra-nationalist groups within Japan.

Japanese Expansionism and Military Ideology

• Military Campaigns in China (1932-1933):
  • Japanese forces attach Jehol province, expanding territory.
  • Increase in militaristic ideology and suppression of dissent.
• Ideological Justification:
  • Concept of "Musubi" and the need to liberate Asia from Western powers.

Internal Social Climate

• Cultural Shifts:
  • Conflict between traditional Japanese culture and Western influence.
  • Rise of ultra-nationalism and militarism leads to societal repression.
• Personal Accounts:
  • Stories from Japanese citizens reflect conflicting feelings about war and nationalism.
  • Kyoko Endo's letter exemplifies the internal struggle and repression.

Conclusion

• Japan's militaristic path ultimately leads to conflict and suffering.
• The ideology of war and expansion sets the stage for devastating future consequences.