The impact of nationalism and militarism on Japan's foreign policy

Origins of Japanese nationalism and militarism

Growth of nationalism due to:

• the determination to transform Japan into a Western-style power, which was linked to the desire for equality with Western powers

• Japan's belief in its destiny as the leader of Asia

• the need to obtain raw materials and to secure markets in East Asia, and to stop other countries from doing this

• the need for strategic security

• the actions of the Western powers

• growing popular support for militarism and expansionism within Japan.

Nationalism linked with an imperialist foreign policy as Japan took over other Asian territories in pursuit of its nationalist goals.
And also with militarism because Japanese expansion was dependent on the military taking action and making political decisions.

Nationalism began in the second half of the 19th century when Japan had its first contact with the West. Up until this time, it had been isolated from the outside world in an attempt to shield its civilisation from the perceived threat posed by Christianity.

1853 - Matthew Perry's Black Ships arrives
1854 - the ruling Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, signed the Treaty of Kanagawa with the USA


Treaty of Kanagawa:
Political power now returned to the emperor;
His government began modernising Japan, dismantling the feudal system and establishing a limited form of democracy;
Major reforms took place in all areas: industry, education, fashion and, the military;
Promotion of national unity and patriotism; "rich country, strong military".

The effects of the First Sino-Japanese War on nationalism and militarism

Triple Intervention
Germany, Russia and France, concerned with Japan's growing power and its impact on Asia as a whole, forced Japan to give up the Liaodong Peninsula

Russia then took the Liaodong Peninsula for itself, while Germany secured control over Shandong Province. France and Great Britain took advantage of the weakened China to seize port cities on various pretexts and to expand their spheres of influence.

Growth of nationalism and militarism due to the:
The military success of the Sino-Japanese War, the gaining of land and also the frustration at having to give up some land to a Western power.

Japanese military expansion increased between 1895 and 1905, and ministerial representatives of the army and navy were now to be drawn only from the upper ranks of the armed forces.

The population was told to "endure through hardship" as huge amounts of money were spent on the army and navy.

How did international events contribute to the growth of nationalism and militarism?

1902 - Anglo-Japanase Alliance, ending Japan's diplomatic isolation
First military alliance signed between a Western and a non-Western nation

1904 - Russo-Japanese War
War required an unprecedented mobilisation of the nation's resources.
Casualties amounted to more than 100,000 and the financial cost was immense.
To sustain so heroic an effort, the war was justified as a great popular undertaking.

When the Russian fleet arrived in the Tsushima Strait, it was destroyed by Admiral Togo and the new Japanese fleet, ending the war and proclaiming Japan's victory.

How did Japan benefit from the First World War?

Opportunity to expand its influence in Asia further.

The Russians were forced to accept the Treaty of Portsmouth.


Japan gained control of Korea and much of South Manchuria, including Port Arthur.

Also gained railway rights in Manchuria along with the southern half of Sakhalin Island.

Earned Japan the respect of both the West and other Asian countries.

Also affirmed Japan's own belief in its destiny as leader of Asia.

1914 - Japan declared war on Germany after having their demand for colonial territory on China denied.

1915 - The 'Twenty-One Demands' are made on China

Started to supply goods to the Allies as well as orders to Asian markets that the Allies were unable to fulfil.

Japan also became more self-sufficient as it developed industries to produce goods previously imported.

Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917- the Allies sent an invading force to support the Whites in the Russian Civil War against the Red Army of the Bolsheviks, the Japanese sent 70,000 men to support the Whites. The Japanese also stayed on after the end of the civil war and after the British, USA and French forces had left. However, they were defeated by the Bolsheviks and had to withdraw in 1922 .

The results of the First World War for Japan

Versailles Conference - Japan secured the former German Pacific islands as a mandate and Germany's former economic privileges on the Shandong Peninsula of China.
These gains firmly established Japan as an important economic power on the Asian mainland and as the main naval power in the Western Pacific.

However, Japans fails to get racial equality clauses included in the Charter of the League of Nations, because leaders in Britain and the USA were afraid of the implications this would have for Japanese immigration into their countries.

The Japanese were not allowed to become US citizens and in states such as California were prevented from owning land. The 1924 Immigration Act discriminated against Japan by making it the only country not to be allowed any quota of immigrants into the USA.

How peaceful was Japan in the 1920s?

During the 1920's - Japan changed to a foreign policy of internationalism due the influence of Shidehara Kijuro.
This aimed to develop Japan's economy via peaceful means: keeping good relations with the USA, a key trading partner, and continuing to seek economic advancement in China, but within the framework of international agreement.

Four-Power Treaty: This ended the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. The USA, Britain, France and Japan were to confer ifthere was a crisis in the Pacific.

Five-Power Naval Treaty: This limited the tonnage of the US, British, Japanese, French and Italian navies.

Nine-Power Treaty: Japan, the USA, Britain, France, Italy, China, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands were to respect China's integrity and independence and abide by "open door" principles.

Taisho democracy: referred to a series of reforms instituted during the latter years of Emperor Taisho's reign

What problems did Japan face in the 1920's?

  1. A fragile democracy:
    Financial scandals and election law violations. The system no longer inspired respect. In addition, there was a fear of left-wing radicalism.
  1. Opposition to Shidehara's internationalism and the growing influence of the military on foreign policy:
    Many Conservative groups in the government, along with the army, questioned Shidehara's approach to international relations, seeing it as a betrayal of Japan's interests. The conservatives' dislike of Shidehara's policies was confirmed when the USA passed a bill limiting immigration from all countries to 1 50,000 a year, and specifically excluding "Asiatics" from the quota.
  1. A growing economic crisis:
    Unemployment and industrial unrest developed and, in 1921, a bitter strike paralysed Japan's docks. There was a large divide between the cities and rural areas, and farmers suffered from the falling price of rice caused by good harvests and cheap imported rice. The real economic crisis, however, came with the outbreak of the global depression following the Wall Street Crash in the USA in 1929.

The role of political instability in China in encouraging Japanese nationalism before the 1930s

China's political instability was key in encouraging imperial competition on its mainland and preventing Japanese expansion into Korea and Manchuria.

Following China's defeat by the British in the Opium Wars (1839-42 and 1856-60), European powers gained extraordinary economic, military and legal privileges on Chinese soil, especially along the coast in the treaty ports. Officially, the Chinese Empire was still an independent power, but in reality it was at the mercy of other powers and their treaties, which were backed up by "gunboat diplomacy" or armed powers.