Essay about Transformation of Japan - 1203 Words

Transformation of Japan During the time period between the 1850s and 1950s, Japan underwent massive changes politically, economically, and socially. Acknowledging the failure of isolation, Japan imitated the West in an attempt to modernize, however, still retaining its own identity. A reorganized and more centralized government allowed Japan to industrialize in half the time it took the nations of Western Europe. Industrialization provided Japan with the tools needed to transform itself from a half civilized and â€Å"backwards† society during isolation, to a dominating superpower during WWII. In 1853 during the Tokugawa shogunate, Matthew Perry, an American commodore, arrived with an army at Edo Bay to coerce the Japanese†¦show more content†¦Japan entered the race for colonies. Japan became imperialist after 1890 due to the need to pay the new army, search for raw materials and new resources, and avoid Western intrusion of Japan’s possessions. Japan quickly defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War in 1895 gaining territory in northern China. In 1902, Japan allied itself with Britain, demonstrating the arrival of Japan as an equal to the Western powers. In 1904, Japan won the Russo-Japanese war on account of its superior navy. In 1910, Japan annexed Korea. Economically, Korea was economically exploited. The Great depression called for radical measures, which included military aggression. Japanese military played a major role in setting diplomatic policy. The military was separate from the bureaucracy and adhered to the emperor. The military saw Japan’s liberalism as a threat to traditional Japanese values and customs and the military’s position in the government. In 1931, the military captured Manchuria without government approval. In 1932, several military officials assassinated the prime minister. As a result, a mildly military government was created as militaristic prime ministers presided. The militaristic prime ministers called for expansion in Asia to create an empire. The demand for wider conquests by the military drove Japan to enter WWII. After WWII, Japan was devastated by war, but the aid of the U.S. allowed them to recover quickly. TheShow MoreRelated Book Review: Japan in Transformation Essay1009 Words   |  5 Pages Jeffrey Kingston. Japan in Transformation, 1952 – 2000. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2001. 230 pp. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Over the past fifty years Japan has seen significant changes in all aspects of its society and the way it interacts with the outside world. For example, despite suffering a defeat in World War II, Japan soon became one of Asia’s greatest economic powers. In Japan in Transformation, 1952 - 2000, Jeffrey Kingston focuses on various aspects of change in JapaneseRead MoreEast Asia Essay792 Words   |  4 PagesEast Asia During the years between 1000 and 1400 the East Asian region saw extensive change and development concerning the nature of the elites that ruled respective countries. In China there was the growth of the examination culture, Japan experienced the emergence of the Samurai, Korea saw the growth of the Yangban, and Vietnam became content with a tribute system to China. Each of the respective countries grew and developed independently and for the most part were able to distance themselvesRead MoreWhy The Allies Were Victorious At The End Of World War II1377 Words   |  6 Pagesand ultimate failure of the Axis Powers was caused by significant events that had a great impact on the war. 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Everything that came before was in shambles, but little did the country know thereRead MoreModernization of Japan Essay1375 Words   |  6 PagesJapan underwent rapid modernization due to the impacts of the West. Significant influences of the West caused Intensive and extensive transformation of japans feudal system to a modern industrialized nation. The arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry, Commander – in – Chief of US forces in 1853 was a major contribution to the Modernization of Japan. Perry had been sent to force the Japanese inhabitants to concede the following: Protection for American soldiers, opening of one or two ports for repairsRead MoreEssay about Gold Arches East1257 Words   |  6 Pages Three places that he mentioned in his writing were Beijing, Seoul and Japan. They all share similarities in the way the culture was impacted positively and negatively, in society and politically. They have their differences in the way things were dealt with and how the public viewed the American company coming to their countries. In this paper, I will be talking about how McDonalds is involved in the cultural transformation of different cultures, as well as, if they created the trends mentionedRead MoreJapan and Globalization963 Words   |  4 PagesJapan, home of some of the largest multinational technology corporati ons in the world, has been influenced in myriad ways through globalization. The effects of globalization on Japan provide valuable insights into the transformation of Japanese society. Global processes have increased wages and homelessness, strengthened environmental management programs, shifted governance towards regionalism, and threatened linguistic diversity in Japan. Numerous studies on Japan’s economy provide both the positiveRead More1. Introduction Japan has very significant characteristics in terms of their economic power1700 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction Japan has very significant characteristics in terms of their economic power either in the Asia- Pacific region or around the world. After World War II the Japanese economy was deeply affected by shortages, inflation, and currency devaluation means that Japanese economy was bankrupt position. Therefore, Japan passed under the control of US in the post- Second World War period. From this point, economic transformation or recovery or development has started in Japan with the impactsRead MoreChina, South Korea And Japan864 Words   |  4 PagesChina, South Korea and Japan are three countries which represent successful policies in reversing their economy from central to advanced in a short period of time. These countries are smaller pieces of a puzzle and they compete with the rest of Asia by forming a strong picture. After participating in wars like WWII and the Korean War, China, South Korea, and Japan make a very powerful triangular force that stands for change and the development of a new policy in economy, society and governments.Read MoreA Review of Toshie: A Story of Village Life in Twentieth-Century Japan828 Words   |  4 PagesIn Toshie: A Story of Village Life in Twentieth-Century Japan, published in 2004, author Simon Partner offers an insight on the transformation that underwent Japan through the mid-twentieth century through the life of Sakaue Toshie, a woman born and raised on a farm in the Kosugi hamlet of Yokogoshi, Niigata—a rural region almost 250km from the capital of Japan. Toshie was born in 1925—a year before the 64-year reign of Showa Era by Emperor Hirohito. This was a time when â€Å"two out of every ten babies