Japanese Imperialism

Imperialism is a policy of extending the power of a country and influence through military or diplomacy. The settlement, sovereignty, or some indirect mechanisms of control can be ways of achieving imperialism. It has wider effects on the country and its people and can influence matters of wars, climate change, and economies.

Western imperialists provided Japan over a long period of time the tools that would enable the country to become both economically and militarily the power of the world. The expansion of the territories was based on the knowledge which Japanese acquired from the West.

End of the Shogunate 

The end of the Tokugawa shogunate occurred in 1868 when the 15th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned. Commodore Matthew Perry along with four U.S. warships in 1853 arrived in previously isolated Japan and threatened that they would attack Japan if it would not trade with the U.S.The people got upset as the Shogunate Emperor let the U.S. trade with Japan. Hence the people of Japan made Meiji their Emperor and modernize Japan. Hence this is how Shogunate came to an end.

Meiji Restoration

Meiji Restoration was a political revolution in the history of Japan. The political revolution of 1868 brought about the final demise of the military government, the Tokugawa shogunate. This was the end of the Tokugawa period which was established from 1603 to 1867. Young samurai became the leaders of the restoration who were from feudal domains (Hans). Growing domestic problems of Japan and the threat of foreign encroachment motivated the young minds. The control of the country returned to direct imperial rule under Mutsuhito who was the Emperor of Meiji. This revolution brought westernization and modernization to Japan along with major political, economic, and social changes.

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Japanese Economic Imperialism

From 1894 the economic character of Japan was significantly changed due to Japanese imperialism. The investment of Japan was comparatively small in the Asian continent in comparison to the other powers up to 1914 because of the lack of capital. This small investment shows a narrow version of the Open Door with the Japanese investing in specific projects in which the country had an immediate stake for instance the Hanyehping mines rather than participating in international loans to the government of China. Japan emerged as an industrial power after 1914  in its own right the nature and value of its overseas trade. Japan changed its investments.

Reasons for Japanese Imperialism

The reasons for Japanese Imperialism are given below.

• Western countries were mainly responsible for the imperialism in Japan. They came to Japan for trade but also provided a sense of imperialism in the Japanese.

• The next reason can be militarism which was strengthened by nationalism wanting to gain power.

• the industrial revolution by western countries was also responsible for Japanese Imperialism.

• The emperor of Japan was just a figurehead and did not have a significant political presence, while either local rulers, powerful families, or military warlords dominated.

• To increase the economy of Japan as it was a weak economy country of that time imperialism occurred in Japan.

Effects of Japanese Imperialism

The Effects of Japanese Imperialism are remarkable. It provides strength to the industrial revolution. It was helpful in maintaining better-modernized technology for wars and battles. Japan became a strong country in terms of economy. Japanese imperialism also has some negative aspects. Imperialism was harsh and brutal which caused countries to prevent trading relations with Japan and other benefits. Several human rights were violated in China, the Philippines, and Korea due to Japanese imperialism. A lot of people died because of ill-treatment, torture, ill-treatment, and scientific experiments performed by Japanese doctors who used prisoners of war to obtain unwilling lab participants.

Do you know?

• Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan. This beautiful city is known for peaceful sites like Fushimi-Inari Shrine, old wooden houses,  historic structures like Kinkaku-Ji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove  Nijo Castle, and tea rooms in the Gion district.

• Japan was divided into independent kingdoms during the Heian Period that was fighting with each other. The Japanese feudal lords required men for the defense to protect their territories and they appointed trained warriors called samurai. 

Conclusion

We get to know about Japanese imperialism world history in detail through this article. Japan emerged as an imperialist nation and world power in response to Western Imperialism.

Imperialism of Japan was important for the development and upliftment of the living standard of Japan because it was encouraged industrialization which pressured overseas expansion and the opening of foreign markets. Hence imperialism played a vital role in shaping modern Japan.