Imperial Japan
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The Empire of Japan or Imperial Japan (Kyūjitai: 大日本帝國; Shinjitai: 大日本帝国; pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku) is a political term for Japan from the Meiji Restoration until the end of World War II during World War I and World War II.
Politically, it covers the period from the enforced establishment of prefectures in place of feudal domains (廃藩置県; Hai-han Chi-ken) in July 14, 1871, through the expansion of Japan from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean during rapid industrialization and militarization of Japan, up until the formal surrender in September 2, 1945, when the Instrument of Surrender was signed. Constitutionally, it refers to the period of November 29, 1890, to May 3, 1947.
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Brief description
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Image:Flag of Japan.svg The Japanese Empire and Imperial Japan are commonly known and used, referring to the same entity, though the literal translation of the title in Japanese is the Empire of Great Japan. It was a major Axis Power and a key ally of Nazi Germany's aggressive global policies. Emperor Hirohito was the Emperor of Japan during this period of Japanese history, though the emperor took on the role of a constitutional monarch after Japan's defeat in World War two. Japan's main military branches were the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy and both were considered one of most powerful in the world prior to the Second World War. During this period in Japan, there was rapid industrialization and increase of military resources with European assistance. A example is the nationalized navy that was able to defeat both Russia and China in territorial wars. After this rapid industralization before the 1940s, Japan adopted a policy of outward expansion to acquire foreign colonies and resources, eyeing China, Korea and Southeast Asia. The country had been called the Empire of Japan since the feudal anti-shogunate domains, Satsuma and Chōshū, formed the base of their new government during the Meiji Restoration, with the intention of making it an empire. Although it was in the 1889 Constitution of the Empire of Japan that the title Empire of Japan was officially used for the first time, it was not until 1936 that the proper official title of the country was legalized. Meanwhile, the names "Nippon" (日本; Japan), "Dai-Nippon" (大日本; Great Japan), "Dai-Nippon/-Nihon Koku" (大日本国; Nation of Great Japan), "Nihon Teikoku" (日本帝国; Empire of Japan) were all used officially. In 1946, a year after the close of the war, Japan was restructured, and the country's title was once again revised, to “The State of Japan” (日本国; Nihon Koku) in the draft in the 1946 Constitution of Japan.
Meiji Restoration
The Meiji Revolution was the catalyst towards industrialization in Japan that led to the rise of the island nation as a military power by 1905, under the slogan of "National Wealth and Military Strength" (fukoku kyohei, 富国強兵).
Philosophy behind Japan's restoration
- National Wealth and Military Strength
- Kanagaqa, leaving Asia and his leaving Asia article
- Suggestion from German chancellor at the time, etc.
see also Japanese nationalism
Invasion of mainland and southeast Asia
China
Korea
Southeast Asia
Image:Japanese Empire2.png The main reason of the imperial expansion and conquest of other territories by Imperial Japan was cited as being that Imperial Japan needed resources badly for its rapid industrialization and development by first setting its sight on China, Korea and other countries in southeast Asia. After conquering some of the territories of these nations, it started contesting Russias far-eastern territory and eventually began to invade into eastern Mongolia.
With the Great Depression, Japan, like some other countries, turned to what has debatably been termed Fascism. It was a unique political form (see detailed discussion at Japanese nationalism), though with some European parallels. Unlike the regimes of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, however, Japan had two economic goals in developing an empire.
First, as with its European counterpart, a tightly controlled domestic military industry seems to have jump started the nation's economy in the midst of the depression. Also, due to the lack of natural resources on Japan's home islands, in order to maintain a strong industrial sector with strong growth, raw materials such as iron, oil, and coal largely had to be imported. Most of these materials came from the United States. So, for the sake of the military-industrial development scheme, and industrial growth on the whole, mercantilist theories prevailed, and the Japanese felt that resource-rich colonies were needed to compete with European powers. Korea (1910) and Formosa (Taiwan 1895) had earlier been annexed as primarily agricultural colonies. Manchuria's iron and coal, Indochina's rubber, and China's vast resources were prime targets for industry.
Manchuria was invaded and successfully conquered in 1931, with little trouble. Japan claimed this invasion as liberation of the Manchus from the Chinese, just as they have claimed annexation of Korea was an act of protection. Japan then established a puppet regime called Manchukuo, and installed former Emperor of China, Puyi as official head of state. Jehol, a Chinese territory bordering Manchuria, was taken in 1933.
Japan invaded China in 1937, creating what was essentially a three-way war between Japan, Mao Zedong's communists, and Jiang Jieshi's nationalists. In the same year, the Nationalist capital of Nanking fell to Japanese troops. The event known as the Nanking Massacre happened in the winter of 1937 and it is said that nearly 300,000 people (almost all civilians) were killed. In 1936 before the Chinese invasion, Japan signed an anticommunism treaty with Germany in 1937.
Atrocities in foreign territories
Template:Expand Image:Nanjing ditch.jpg e.g. Nanking Massacre
Attacks
Pearl Harbor
Path to defeat
In December 7, 1941 the Japanese Empire made a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor naval base with intentions to destroy the U.S. Pacific fleet. The primary objective of the attack was to incapitate the United States long enough for Japan to establish it's long planned South East Asian empire and defensible buffer zones. The surprise attack would provoke the United States into World War two on the side of the Allied powers. After a few months of unconcentrated naval engagements, Japan would suffer a major military defeat at the Battle of Midway, and lose most of it's offensive carrier capabilities. From this point, the Japanese would focus on defending their territorial gains until surrender in August, 1945.
Battle of Midway
Template:Main article After attack on Pearl Harbor, Imperial Japan lost its major battle in Battle of Midway against the Allied powers, which was a turning point of aggressive military force and invasion by Imperial Japan. this was the beginning of the end for imperial Japan as a viable military force in the world.
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Image:Nagasakibomb.jpg Template:Main article
United States dropped two nuclear weapon on Japan at the end of the World War II because of the tough situation of US policy and reluctance of Imperial Japan to surrender. The atomic bombing was the first and last used against another nation in a time of war to cause damage and devastation. These bombs killed around 100,000-200,000 in a matter of minutes and much larger died as a result from nuclear radiation in Japan.
Defeat and instrument of surrender to Allied powers
After the unconditional surrender to Allied powers, Japan renunciated solving international issues militarily and started developing along with other countries after World War II.
- See also: Imperialism in Asia Japanese imperialism
Timeline
- 1926: Emperor Taisho dies (December 25).
- 1927: Tanaka Giichi becomes prime minister (April 20).
- 1928: Hirohito is formally installed as emperor (November 10).
- 1929: Hamaguchi Osachi becomes prime minister (July 2).
- 1930: Hamaguchi is wounded in an assassination attempt (November 14).
- 1931: Hamaguchi dies and Wakatsuki Reijiro becomes prime minister (April 14). Japan occupies Manchuria after the Mukden Incident (September 18). Inukai Tsuyoshi becomes prime minister (December 13) and increases funding for the military in China.
- 1932: After an attack on Japanese monks in Shanghai (January 18), Japanese forces shell the city (January 29). Manchukuo is established with Henry Pu Yi as emperor (February 29). Inukai is assassinated during a coup attempt and Saito Makoto becomes prime minister (May 15). Japan is censured by the League of Nations (December 7).
- 1933: Japan leaves the League of Nations (March 27).
- 1934: Okada Keisuke becomes prime minister (July 8). Japan withdraws from the Washington Naval Treaty (December 29).
- 1936: Coup attempt (February 26 Incident). Hirota Koki becomes prime minister (March 9). Japan signs its first pact with Germany (November 25) and occupies Tsingtao (December 3). Mengchiang established in Inner Mongolia.
- 1937: Hayashi Senjuro becomes prime minister (February 2). Prince Konoe Fumimaro becomes prime minister (June 4). Battle of Lugou Bridge (July 7). Japan captures Beijing (July 31). Japanese troops occupy Nanjing (December 13), beginning the Nanjing massacre.
- 1938: Battle of Taierzhuang (March 24). Canton falls to Japanese forces (October 21).
- 1939: Hiranuma Kiichiro becomes prime minister (January 5). Abe Nobuyuki becomes prime minister (August 30).
- 1940: Yonai Mitsumasa becomes prime minister (January 16). Konoe becomes prime minister for a second term (July 22). Hundred Regiments Offensive (August–September). Japan occupies Indochina in the wake of the fall of Paris, and signs the Tripartite Pact (September 27).
- 1941: General Tojo Hideki becomes prime minister (October 18). Japanese naval forces attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (December 7), prompting the United States to declare war on Japan (December 8). Japan conquers Hong Kong (December 25).
- 1942: Singapore surrenders to Japan (February 15). Japan bombs Australia (February 19). Doolittle Raid on Tokyo (April 18). Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4–8). U.S. and Filipino forces in the Battle of the Philippines (1942) surrender (May 8). Japan defeated at the Battle of Midway (June 6). Allied victory in the Battle of Milne Bay (September 5).
- 1943: Allied victory in Battle of Guadalcanal (February 9). Japan defeated at Battle of Tarawa (November 23).
- 1944: Tojo resigns and Koiso Kuniaki becomes prime minister (July 22).
- 1945: U.S. bombers begin firebombing of major Japanese cities. Japan defeated at Battle of Iwo Jima (March 26). Admiral Suzuki Kantaro becomes prime minister (April 7). Japan defeated at Battle of Okinawa (June 21). U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9). Japan surrenders (August 14): Allied occupation begins.
Emperors of the Empire of Japan
| Posthumous name1 | Given name2 | Childhood name3 | Period of Reigns | Era name4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meiji Tennō (明治天皇) |
Mutsuhito (睦仁) |
Sachi-no-miya (祐宮) |
1867-1912 (1890-1912)5 |
Meiji | |
| Taishō Tennō (大正天皇) |
Yoshihito (嘉仁) |
Haru-no-miya (明宮) |
1912-1926 | Taishō | |
| Shōwa Tennō (昭和天皇) |
Hirohito (裕仁) |
Michi-no-miya (迪宮) |
1926-1989 (1926-1947)6 |
Shōwa | |
| 1 Each posthumous name was given after the respective era names as Ming and Qing Dynasties of China. | |||||
| 2 The Japanese imperial family name has no family name. | |||||
| 3 For Meiji Emperor, Sachi-no-miya is his only given name until his coronation. | |||||
| 4 No multiple era names were given for each reign after Meiji Emperor. | |||||
| 5 Constitutionally. | |||||
| 6 Constitutionally. The reign of the Showa Emperor in fact continued until 1989 since he did not abdicate after WWII. | |||||
This period is including Meiji Era, Taisho Era, and a part of Showa Era of Japanese History
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zh:大日本帝国