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The Meiji Period (1868 - 1912), Challenges for Japan from 1912 to 1932 -…
The Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)
Social Changes
Growing divide in beliefs in the countryside vs cities
Young people tend to migrate to cities
Population of Tokyo rose from 600,000 in 1873 to 2 million in 1913
People in countryside tend to have more traditional values than city dwellers
Bushido Spirit
Used to be a samurai thing
Repurposed during the Meiji era as national ideology
The Education System
Adopted Western-styled curriculum and vocational schools to support industrial efforts
Reinforced loyalty to the Emperor, the state, community and family
Promoted nationalistic feelings
Glazed the military for their successes and emphasised their importance to protect the country from enemies (esp the West)
Had military drills
Result: High respect for military -> led to the rise of militarism in Japan
Japan and the World
Many officials and politicians believed that controlling resource-rich lands and building an Empire is the way to go
1894-1895: Sino-Japanese War: China vs Japan over Korea -> Japan won
China also ceded Taiwan and Liaodong Peninsula in Manchuria to Japan
1904-1905: Russo-Japanese War: Russia vs Japan over Manchuria -> Japanese won -> first Asian power defeating a major European power -> celebrated nation-wide
Economic Restoration
Japan implemented many policies to modernise itself to catch up with the West.
In 1871, the Meiji government sent academics and other officials to the United States and Europe to learn how the Western nations ran their governments, economies, and armed forces
Economic Changes
Strengthening the Army through Fukoku Kyohei
Industrialisation of economy: Used western technology to increase industrial output
Infrastructure such as banking systems and railroads were set up to support Japan's production. Zaibatsus established
Increased foreign trade -> expanding its economy
Political Changes
1889: became a constitutional monarchy
Emperor had to share power with the government made of different groups including the Genro, the democractically elected civilian politicians in the Diet and the military
Relatively politically stable as Emperor and Prime Ministers were capable leaders and able to balance the interests of civilian politicians in the DIet
Reverence to the Emperor and was treated like a god
Challenges for Japan from 1912 to 1932
Political Challenges
Point: Growing dvide between court officials, civilian politicians and the military
Explanation: Emperor Yoshihito was sickly and the much of the Genro officials left due to age -> unable to balance the interests of different parties -> divided parliament
Seiyukai vs Minseito (two civilian political parties)
Military disregarding the PMs and cabinet as they resented them for cutting the military budget
Economic Challenges
Severe inflation in the early 1920s
Price of rice increased by 174%
Rice riots, 1918: Sudden increase in commodities especially rice resulted in riots
Banking Crisis, 1927
Great Depression, 1929 - 1931
Wall Street crashed in Oct 1929
Decrease in demand in Japanese exports especially silk
Led to mass unemployment (15 - 20% in the workforce became unemployed)
All events led to mass unemployment and growing resentment towards the civilian government
The Great Kanto Earthquake, 1923
Massive earthquake in Tokyo
Many lives lost and destruction of buildings
Big hit to the economy
Challenges in the Countryside
Farmers in the countryside did not get to benefit as much as the people living in cities
Better cultivation methods and tools did not reach the farmers in the countryside quickly
Insufficient land to feed the growing population
Remained poor
Tenant farmers
Had to pay much of their earnings to their landowners and had little to themselves for food and other necessities
Farmers with their own land
Often owned small plots of land and had poor harvests -> still poor
Tensions in Japanese Society
Rural-Urban Divide
Zaibatsu had worked a lot with the government and earned $$$ while working class stayed poor -> widening of rich-poor gap -> resentment towards government as people thought that the government is in cahoots or are receiving money from working with the Zaibatsu
Landlords lived in luxury while tenant farmers stayed poor -> led to Rice Riots in 1918 (angry workers triggered by the sudden increase in prices of commodities esp rice)
Changing roles of women
Women in cities: Started finding working in cafes, restaurants, silk mills, factories -> more independence
Traditionalists felt that women are starting to disregard their families needs and are self-seeking
Seen as a threat to the Japanese identity