Meiji to Postwar Japan
Early 20th Century a time of radical ideas
Discrimination and Exclusion
- Japan eager to not fall under colonialism of the West
- In 1924, US congress passes the Exclusion Act, ending Japanese immigration for the time being.
- Japan sees itself as protector and nourisher of all of Asia (Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere)
2nd Sino-Japanese War 1937 - 1945
- Japan occupied nearly whole coast of China
- Committed many atrocities on Chinese people (Nanking - killed 300,000 people in about a month)
- As Japan increased its territory, the other Allied powers start embargoes.
Run-up to WWII
- Japan occupies Vietnam
- Joins Germany and Italy in Axis
- Attacks Pearl Harbor in 1941
- Stretches borders to India and New Guinea
The End
- US conducts strategic firebombing of Japan
- 8/6/1945 - atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima (140,000 dead)
- 8/9/1945 - Nagasaki (74,000)
Post War
- Occupation (8/1945 - 4/1952)
- Destruction of every major city except Kyoto
- Food Shortages
- War Criminals / Trials: 500 military committed suicide / (25 major) 300,000 convicted / 80,000 reinstated
- Censorship
- Led to US acting in self-interest w/r/t the Cold War
- SDF established in 1954
New Constitution 1947
- Occupation (8/1945 - 4/1952)
- Destruction of every major city except Kyoto
- Food Shortages
- War Criminals / Trials: 500 military committed suicide / (25 major) 300,000 convicted / 80,000 reinstated
- Censorship
- Led to US acting in self-interest w/r/t the Cold War
- SDF established in 1954
Japan Rises
- “Blue Sky Markets” and the Yakuza
- Stolen merchandise
- Kasutori Culture
- PanPans
- Rise of Communism and dissent
Outside Links:
Japan Russo War woodblocks
Japan Russo War Photos
Japan Russo Postcards