Message from jbaybo

[Anonymous]

Again, Professor Patelko covered a lot of ground on the Japanese timeline: from a feudal society to the 1900s modern industrial colonial power. What is interesting is the fact that America has had an on-going love/hate relationship with Japan since the Meiji period. The fact that America began a relationship with Japan by first demanding trade and port rights is indicative of a stormy relationship. Both Japan and America competed for colonial gains; is it no wonder that the Japanese who were a quick study of imperialism would become an enemy of the United States? Currently, it appears as long as the Japanese follow American diplomacy, relations are fine between the two countries. Interestingly enough, by adhering to World War II peace treaty demands, the Japanese do not have to defend or send their young men and women in harms way. Somehow the Japanese always turn a defeat or acquiescence in their favor.