Readings for Session Five

Throughout my life, I have heard a lot about Japan during World War II and a tiny bit about the aftermath of war and the rebuilding of the country.  I have not, however, read much or heard much about Japan leading up to the war.  After these readings, I have a better appreciation for the events leading up to World War II.  I also better understand the dilemma China was facing regarding following the path of the Meiji Transformation  or taking a more "China First" approach.  

Here are some of the thoughts I gathered while I was reading:  A group of oligarchs overthrew the shogun, abolished social distinctions, and restored power to the emperor.  They incorporated Western thought, upgrading military technology, food production, sciences, and constitutional precepts.  They sought to modernize Japan by building more railroad and telegraph lines and by changing the lunar calendar to match the Western calendar.  Emphasis was put on Shintoism, adding new "national gods" to the "local gods" for people to honor.  Around 1873, the slogan "Rich Country, Strong Army" started to be used.  

Japan felt that Western powers derived some of their strength from having colonies from which to extract labor and natural resources.  This partially explains the decision to make Korea a Japanese Protectorate and to invade Manchuria.  Throughout the 1920s, the virtues of diligence, decorum, and duty were being replaced by materialism, individualism, and decadence.  Early successes of the Japanese army/navy against the Russians and the United States (Philippines) gave the leaders of Japan confidence that they were strong militarily and the foreign powers may be weak.  I look forward to the insights our speaker adds on Monday evening.