Late Meiji and Taisho Japan 1868-1926

1. Late Meiji and Taisho Japan1868-1926 13b

2. Sino-Japanese War: 1894-95 • Tonghak rebellion in Korea • Korean government brings in Chinese help • Japan asserts and shows right to join China • China and Japan clash in Korea • Japan wins handily • Demands: Taiwan, the Pescadores, and the Laodung Peninsula.

3. Triple Intervention • Germany, France and Russia • Insist that Japan was too greedy • Japan must give up Laodung Peninsula • Russia takes over Japan’s role on Laodung Peninsula

4. Triple Intervention Japan learns: • We’re not there yet • Westerners still don’t respect us Japan’s response: • We need to get richer, stronger Fukoku Kyohei!!

5. Russo-Japanese War: 1904-05 • Negotiations over Russia’s and Japan’s roles in Korea and Manchuria break down • Japan withdraws ambassador from Moscow • Launches all-out, surprise attack on Russia’s Pacific fleet in harbor at Vladivostok

6. Russo-Japanese War: 1904-05 • Japan attacks Russia’s Pacific fleet in harbor at Vladivostok • Decimates Russian Pacific Fleet – in port • Quickly defeats Russia • Assumes primary control over Korean and Manchurian economic interests

7. Japanese Motivation:Why expansion and aggression? • Vulnerability: Japan is small and vulnerable • Triple intervention proved Japan must demand respect; must earn respect • Expanding population needed food supply stability • Expanding industry needed raw materials and markets • The ONLY Solution??? Fukoku Kyohei!!

8. Meiji EraJapanese Industry • Zaibatsu:Japan’s major, family owned conglomerates • Largely built from Tokugawa era merchant fortunes or Daimyo estate fortunes • Single-family, wholly owned firms • Diversified product lines

9. Zaibatsu Labor System • Lifetime employment • No layoffs • No firing • No changing firms for promotion • Loyalty above all else • Seniority • Strict, lock-step advancement and salary scale • Investment in employee training

10. Zaibatsu Labor System • Labor Unions • Company Union – not craft union • Focus on sustainability and accommodation • Flexibility in job descriptions • Company as a family • Company clinic • Company resort • Company entertainment • Company retirement

11. Japan Continues to Expand • Annex Korea: 1910 • Korea as a Japanese province • Koreans as Japanese – sort of • Northern Korea – Like Manchuria provides natural resources, lumber, ore, manufacturing • Southern Korea – Like Taiwan, provides food, especially rice

12. Japan Expands • WW I: 1914 • Japan enters on British, U.S. side • Moves on German interests in Asia • 21 Demands on China (Jan. 1915) • Effectively: China accepts tributary status behind Japan • China rejects 21 Demands • Washington, Pres. Wilson, rejects 21 Demands • Upholds Chinese Sovereignty • Japanese see this as persecution of Japan

13. Fukoku Kyohei By 1922 Japan controlled: Korea Manchuria Taiwan Enclaves in China JapaneseEmpire: 1922

14. Domestic Politics:Taisho Democracy New Emperor Taisho: 1912-1926 • New era of domestic politics • From Oligarchs to Genro (elder statesmen) • Party Government • Cabinet unofficially selected by Diet through party nominations (like in Britain)

15. Domestic Politics:Taisho Democracy • Expansion of the franchise • Universal male suffrage 1926 • Freedom of Press • Freedom of Speech • Recognition of political parties • Human rights and democracy movements emerge

16. Taisho DemocracyFlounders Economic slowdown (precursor to Great Depression) hits Japan @1925 • Difficult economic times unsettle emerging democracy • Zaibatsu leaders fear loss of resources and markets • Military/Zaibatsu alliance emerges

17. Taisho Democracy Flounders Signs of reasserted authoritarian control:1925-27 • Peace Preservation Act 1926 reigns in “excesses” of free press and free speech • Military disrupts cabinet by withholding ministers • Campaign of political assassinations decimates “liberal” ranks of politicians and government officials • Imperial decree on education re-emphasizes Amaterasu and Divinity of the Emperor • Military ethics system reinvigorated through schools • Japan’s special role as leader of Asia becomes standard doctrine in schools

18. Taisho Democracy Undone International Events disrupting Taisho Democracy • WW I: 1914 – Military reinvigorated • 1915: 21 Demands on China • Begin occupation of Manchuria • US President Wilson Supports Chinese Sovereignty • 1921: Washington Treaty – Naval Arms Control • 5:5:3 – Japan gets DISrespected • 1924: US – Japanese Exclusion Act • 1925 economic crisis strikes • Leads to 1929 Depression

19. Taisho Democracy Undone Taisho Democracy Collapses 1926 • Taisho Emperor dies • Showa Emperor emerges International and domestic crises emphasize • Japan’s smallness • Japan’s vulnerability Japan’s military-industrial alliance combines with Bureaucrats to reassert control Refocus nation’s efforts on… you guessed it…

20. Fukoku Kyohei! • Emphasis on military • Emphasis on economic independence • Capture natural resources through colonies • Capture markets through colonies • Keep building strong manufacturing base • Establish domestic order by: • Silencing “chaos” of democratic opposition • Unifying government -- assassinate liberals