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THE MOVE TO GLOBAL WAR: JAPAN

PART 1: REASONS FOR EXPANSION VOCABULARY

Formally came into existence on 10 January 1920, the same day that the Versailles Treaty came into operation.

THE ROAD TO PEARL HARBOR

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

RESPONSES TO THE MANCHURIAN CRISIS

One of its main aims was to settle international disputes before they got out of hand, and so prevent war from ever breaking out again.

Each table has a few long quotes from Saburo Ienaga's chapter "The Military: Authoritarian and Irrational" from The Pacific War.

GUIDING QUESTION

INTERACTIVE TIMELINE

China

The League is often spoken of as being the brainchild of the American President Woodrow Wilson.

CAUSES OF EXPANSION

Was the "southern advance" a reasonable attempt to address to Japan's international dilemma, or was it a reckless step toward war?

The USSR

ultranationalist state- Meiji Restoration- Meiji Constitution- Meiji Emperor- feudalism- Privy Council- samurai- Diet- suffrage- House of Peers/House of Representatives- compulsory education- militarists- radical nationalism/fascism- shogun- Korean tributary state- coup d’etat- First Sino Japanese War- Japan Korea Treaty- Treaty of Shimonoseki- Tripartite Intervention- Liaodong Peninsula- Gashin Shotan- Anglo Japanese Alliance- Russo-Japanese War- Boxer Rebellion- Battle of Tsushima Straits- Treaty of Portsmouth- Great Powers- First World War- Shantung Peninsula- The Twenty One Demands- Paris Peace Conference- League of Nations- mandates- annexed- conscription- Shidehara Diplomacy- Washington Naval Conference- London Naval Conference- Five Power Treaty- Four Power Treaty- Nine Power Treaty- Great Depression- trade barriers- zaibatsu- industrialisation- military production- strikes- communism- Showa Restoration- Showa Emperor- military factions- socialists- Sakurakai- Kodoha- Tosieha- warlord era- Manchuria- Kwantung Army- Kuomintang- CCP- Chiang Kai Shek- Northern Expedition- Zhang Zoulin

Explore the interactive timeline on the US and Japan.

As you go through the events of that period, consider the various options available to the United States—listed along the left-hand side—and for each event select what they think the actual response was. If you choose the wrong response, continue to make selections until you have found find the right one. As you use the interactive you should make a list of the events (with dates), and the U.S.responses in your Evernote.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO:

"XIV. A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike."

The United States

In small groups, look at each group of quotes for five minutes. Highlight sections you think are important in yellow and parts you do not understand in green.

OF NATIONS

THE LEAGUE

  • Impact of nationalism & militarism on foreign policy
  • Japanese domestic issues: political and economic issues, and their impact on foreign relations
  • Political instability in China

Define what Japanese leaders meant by the "southern advance," and explain why they opted to pursue it.

The League of Nations

WILSON'S FOURTEEN POINTS

Articulate the U.S. response to the "southern advance," and assess whether it was a reasonable one.

JAPAN'S DECISION FOR WAR

AUTHORITARIAN & IRRATIONAL

THE MILITARY

Explain why Tokyo decided in September 1941 to prepare for war against the United States.

After some initial troubles, the League functioned successfully during the 1920s; it solved a number of minor international disputes, as well as achieving valuable economic and social work.

After five minutes, rotate to the next table and do the same for the quotes on that table.

EVENTS

ANALYZING

BACKGROUND

"The Roosevelt administration’s decision to freeze Japanese assets in the United States—thus effectively cutting Japan off from its primary source of oil—led to a serious reevaluation of Japanese foreign policy. Another conference—this time in the Emperor’s presence—was held on September 6, 1941, to discuss what steps should be taken next. The documents on the Weebly are excerpts from statements made at this conference by representatives of the army, the navy, and the civilian government."

READING AND TAKING NOTES

It is 1931 and the Japanese Kwantung Army has just swept into Manchuria. You must decide what should be done based on the current political and economic climate.

War with China in fourth year by 1940 and victory nowhere in sight. Japan won almost ever battle but the Chinese had ample room for retreat.

During the 1930s the League was challenged several times: Japanese invasion of Manchuria (1931) and the Italian attack on Abyssinia (1935). Both aggressors ignored the League's orders to withdraw.

Scan the chapter to get an idea of what key events and concepts will be covered.

We will repeat the process until each group has looked at each group of quotes.

Japan struggled to have enough men to occupy land conquered, let alone invade even further into China.

  • Japanese invasion of Manchuria & northern China (1931)
  • Sino-Japanese War (1937–1941)
  • The Three Power/Tripartite Pact; the outbreak of war; Pearl Harbor (1941)

"The message conveyed in the cartoon is that ..."

WHAT IS A POLITICAL CARTOON?

INSERT TOPIC HERE

An editorial in picture form.

WHAT IS AN EDITORIAL?

"is"

Notice pictures, maps, breakout boxes, and key definitions in the margins

WHAT OPINIONS DO THE CARTOONS SHOW ABOUT OBAMA'S HANDLING OF ISIS?

WRITE OUT SAMPLE ANSWERS BASED ON THE TEMPLATE PROVIDED

INSERT DESCRIPTOR HERE

POLITICAL

SYMBOLISM

Read the primary sources and analyze them.

a newspaper article expressing the editor's OPINION on a topical issue.

The League of Nations symbol is surrounded by doves representing peace.

The judges, all European, are labelled: wisdom, sanity, decency, good faith, justice and honour.

The Lytton Report, in the form of a huge book, is being read by other Europeans.

(good/bad/intelligent/destructive/being treated unfairly/misguided/stupid/determined/heroic/oblivious/tragic)

A gun-toting japanese man is alone to hear the verdict and is thumbing his nose, a gesture of contempt or ridicule, to the judges.

SO POLITICAL CARTOONS ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE!

Two spectators are talking to each other and not listening to the proceedings.

"because"

IRONY

The League is supposed to be effective at stopping aggression, though here it is shown not to be.

PAPER 1, Question 1

INSERT REASONING HERE

Countries are supposed to adhere to and respect the judgements of the League, though here Japan clearly does not.

"You can tell this as the cartoon shows..."

What is the message conveyed in the politcal cartoon, Source A?

INSERT EXAMPLES HERE.

Japan was comforted by the German victories of 1940. Saw this as a chance to advance into colonies of weakened European states, which were conduits for American aid (British-owned Burma, British-owned Hong Kong, and French-owned Indochina) to the Chinese and rich in raw materials.

ANALOGY

SAMPLE ANSWER

Based on what you have read, compile lists of reasons for and against a war with the United States.

The League of Nations' decisions concerning the Manchurian Crisis IS LIKE a court sentencing a violent criminal to a very lenient punishment.

What is the message conveyed in the political cartoon?

Complete a detailed read, highlighting lines you find important. Do not highlight everything!

France and Britain were in no position to defend these colonies.

Prepare a brief (1-2 minute) statement explaining your thoughts and proposals and be ready to share them with the group.

RESPONSES

You will then be responsible for presenting one group of quotes to the class, explaining what each quote helps you understand Ienaga's thesis that the military is authoritarian and irrational.

Short Essay: Should Japan go to War? Why or why not? If not, what should they do? (200-250 words, using sources)

THINGS TO LOOK FOR:

SYMBOLISM

Fictional Conference

Cartoonists use simple objects, or symbols, to stand for larger concepts or ideas.

INSTRUCTIONS:

After you identify the symbols in a cartoon, think about what the cartoonist intends each symbol to stand for.

SYMBOLISM

EXAGGERATION

Sometimes cartoonists overdo, or exaggerate, the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point.

EXAGGERATION

When you study a cartoon, look for any characteristics that seem overdone or overblown. (Facial characteristics and clothing are some of the most commonly exaggerated characteristics.) Then, try to decide what point the cartoonist was trying to make through exaggeration.

IRONY

Break into groups of 4-5. Each group will either represent the United States or Japan.

Irony is the difference between the ways things are and the way things should be, or the way things are expected to be. Cartoonists often use irony to express their opinion on an issue.

IRONY

When you look at a cartoon, see if you can find any irony in the situation the cartoon depicts. If you can, think about what point the irony might be intended to emphasize. Does the irony help the cartoonist express his or her opinion more effectively?

Japan Presents Opening Statement

CARTOONS

ANALOGY

You will be given a historical document that outlines your positions.

An analogy is a comparison between two unlike things that share some characteristics. By comparing a complex issue or situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists can help their readers see it in a different light.

After you’ve studied a cartoon for a while, try to decide what the cartoon’s main analogy is. What two situations does the cartoon compare? Once you understand the main analogy, decide if this comparison makes the cartoonist’s point more clear to you

ANALOGY

Read the document individually and come up with five questions to ask THE OPPOSING SIDE concerning their positions and interests.

United States Presents Opening Statement

Meet as a group and discuss which questions are best to ask and rank the top five.

Complete definitions/identifications in your Evernote that show the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHY, and WHERE of the term. Most importantly, tell me HOW it is IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE ARE STUDYING!

Create an opening statement outlining your views that you can present at a fictional conference between the United States and Japan in 1940.

Discussion

Question and Answer Session

Do you think that the U.S. response to Japanese aggression (economic sanctions) was effective, or if there should have been a change of strategy at this point? Explain.

Be ready to present your statement and answer questions, as well as ask your questions of the other side.

  • League of Nations and the Lytton report
  • Political developments within China: Second United Front
  • International response, including US initiatives and increasing tensions between the US and Japan

Afterwards there will be a discussion where you will work together to come up with a plan of action.

EMPEROR

Head of the Empire, sacred and inviolable

Elder Statesmen

Imperial Ministry

Moral Guidance/Military Draft

Meiji Restoration: the Meiji Restoration began in 1868 and was an attempt of the Japanese government to modernize Japan in order to compete with other industrialized nations and protect its interests in Asia. It was a response to the forced opening of Japan by western nations. This event is important because the modernization was quite successful and launched Japan on a course that would lead to large scale wars in the region like the Russo-Japanese War, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Second World War. It shows us the origins of Japan's road to global war.

Privy Council

Appoints the House of Peers

Power to Dissolve the House of Representatives

ELECTORATE

Appoints Judges

STRUCTURE

Appoints Prime Minister and Cabinet

GOVERNMENT

Supreme Commander of the Army and Navy

Voting

FACTIONALISM IN THE MILITARY

ASSIGNMENT:

PRIME MINISTER

COURTS

ARMY

TERM ONE SUMMATIVE EXAM

DIET

HOW & WHY DID JAPAN EMBRACE

The Imperial Way

The Control Clique

& CABINET

NAVY

ULTRANATIONALISM, MILITARISM &

HOUSE OF PEERS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

2 Cabinet Members from the Military

Any laws MUST be approved by ALL Cabinet members

TWO (2) Source Analysis Questions

WHY?

EXPANSION?

ONE (1) Source Evaluation Question

WHY WESTERNIZE?

JAPANESE ART WALK:

WHY DOES ANY OF THIS MATTER?

How does this Japanese Military Flag highlight the idea of expansionism?

Move around the class room and use the post-its to comment on the three artworks you find interesting and ask questions about two you are unclear about.

Prior to the 1850s, Japan was a feudal society and largely isolated from the outside world.

The United States was an expanding power, looking for more avenues of trade with Asia.

As a class, see if you can categorize the art into three or four groupings..

It was expanding its sphere of influence, in part, by setting up naval outposts in the Pacific.

MPARE

SOURCE BASED

Regular trade had recently opened up with China. Sailing ships had been replaced with steam ships, which needed coaling stations. The American whaling industry had expanded into the north Pacific as well.

O

NTRAST

Japan had great geographic position & rumors spread that it had vast coal deposits.

Many Americans believed that they had a special responsibility to modernize and civilize/Christianize the Chinese and Japanese. In the end this was to benefit all nations.

To pass laws, they must move from the House of Representatives to the House of Peers, where it must be approved. From there, it moves to the Cabinet and the Prime Minister, who must unanimously approve it. Because the military has two seats in the Cabinet, it is impossible to pass any law without the military's consent. They can withhold their votes until they get everything the want. This gives them tremendous leverage in the government.

SSAY

ONE (1) Source Based Essay Question

WHO HAS POWER?

The Americans came to Japan in 1853 under Commodore Matthew Perry. His mission was to complete an agreement with the Japanese for the protection of shipwrecked or stranded Americans and to open one or more ports for supplies and refueling.

"Furthermore, the military could topple cabinets by having an army or navy minister resign or prevent their formation by refusing to provide officers to serve in these positions... The cabinet was responsible to the people for national policies,

but events were often decided by the military, who were responsible to neither the people nor the cabinet."

There is also no civilian oversight of the military. They are totally independent of the Diet and the Prime Minister. This is known as the "independence of the supreme command".

Perry brought gifts meant to highlight Western technological superiority. He also brought the threat of force with his four warships. He returned a year later to receive the Japanese response, which was reluctant acceptance.

Ienaga, 36

Ultimately, the Japanese did not want to be exploited long term, as China was.

YOU WILL BE PUT IN SMALL GROUPS WHERE YOU WILL REPRESENT EITHER JAPAN, CHINA, GERMANY, OR RUSSIA AND WRITE AND RECORD A PRESS RELEASE CONCERNING YOUR RESPONSE TO/THOUGHTS ON THE EVENTS OF 1894-1905 IN JAPAN, KOREA, CHINA AND MANCHURIA:

  • HOW WOULD YOU JUSTIFY YOUR ACTIONS?
  • WHAT ARE YOU THOUGHTS ON THE ACTIONS OF OTHER NATIONS?
  • HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE WAY THINGS WORKED OUT?

The US and Japan signed the Treaty of Kanegawa. Japan agreed to help shipwrecked Americans and open ports to American ships for refueling. America could appoint consuls in these port cities and also gained "most favored nation status".

Most prominent member of the nationalist movement and important Japanese philosopher.

Later, in 1858, the Harris Treaty hammered out commercial aspects of the new relationship.

Combined a partially socialist platform with imperialist goals.

IKKI KITTA

Wanted to remove the barriers between the Emperor and the people: the Diet, the Cabinet, and the zaibatsu.

FIVE MINUTES READING TIME

According to the source, what is the importance of Japan opening its ports to modern trade?

WHO DOESN'T HAVE POWER?

PAPER ONE

The belief was that these institutions were corrupt and largely responsible for the suffering of the poor.

Millions of young men flocked to the movement. They felt as though they could serve the Emperor, fight Communism, attack Western domination of Asia, and make Japan a leading power in Asia.

GEKOKUJO

GEKOKUJO is insubordination. This is a serious crime in most militaries, but Japan had a long history of sympathizing with insubordinates who acted against "corruption" and in defense of the nation.

SECRET ORGANIZATIONS

"Although Japan opened its ports to modern trade only reluctantly, once it did, it took advantage of the new access to modern technological developments. Japan’s opening to the West enabled it to modernize its military, and to rise quickly to the position of the most formidable Asian power in the Pacific. At the same time, the process by which the United States and the Western powers forced Japan into modern commercial intercourse, along with other internal factors, weakened the position of the Tokugawa Shogunate to the point that the shogun fell from power. The Emperor gained formal control of the country in the Meiji Restoration of 1868, with long-term effects for the rule and modernization of Japan."

The best place to do all of these things was in the MILITARY.

If you were the Tokugawa Shogunate, how would you respond to the American demands to open up Japan? Would you give in? Would you fight back? Why or why not? Consider the possible positive and negative outcomes of each course of action.

Many young military officers joined secret organizations whose goal it was to establish the Japanese government as a military authoritarian state.

+

ONE HOUR

"The United States and the Opening to Japan, 1853 - 1830–1860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian." The United States and the Opening to Japan, 1853 - 1830–1860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.

Asks you to consider how valuable a source would be to a historian.

10-12 minutes

ONE SOURCE

With reference to its origins, purpose and content, analyse the value and limitations of Source 0 for historians studying Japanese militarism. (4 marks)

GEKOKUJU

GEKOKUJO

The most prominent was Sakurakai, or the Cherry Blossom Society, which called for a coup d'etat and the expansion of the Japanese state.

NO BULLET POINTS

BY 1912, Japan created a modern nation with

4 Marks

One paragraph for values

One paragraph for limitations

b) What is the message conveyed in the source ? (2 marks)

With reference to its origin, purpose and content, assess the value and limitations of Source Q for historians studying the influence of the zaibatsu on Japan's government.

  • a highly centralized, bureaucratic government unified around an ideology professing the divinity of the Emperor

With reference to its origin, purpose and content, assess the value and limitations of Source D for historians studying the emergence of Japanese militarism.

Other, like Tenkento, called for assassinations of government officials who disagreed with their goals and tactics in order to bring about reform.

  • a constitution (1889) establishing an elected parliament (very few could vote though until 1925)

WHERE DID THE SOURCE COME FROM? WHO WROTE/CREATED IT?

WHEN WAS THE SOURCE WRITTEN/CREATED?

ORIGIN

WHAT ARE THE AUTHOR'S CREDENTIALS?

WHY WAS THE SOURCE CREATED?

PURPOSE

WHO IS THE AUDIENCE?

IS THE PURPOSE TO PERSUADE/INFORM/EXPLAIN/MANIPULATE?

EXAM

  • a well-developed transport and communication system

a) According to Source D, why was the Restoration needed in Japan? (3 marks)

WHAT INFORMATION IS ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN THE SOURCE?

CONTENT

MAY HELP YOU DETERMINE THE PURPOSE

HOW IS THE SOURCE USEFUL TO A HISTORIAN?

MEIJI

ANALYSIS

EVALUATION

HOW IS THE INFORMATION RELIABLE?

VALUES

DETERMINED IN REGARDS TO THE ORIGIN, PURPOSE AND CONTENT

  • a highly educated population free of feudal class restrictions

WHAT DOESN'T THE SOURCE TELL US?

SHOULD WE BE WARY OF IT'S SUBJECTIVE NATURE? WHY?

LIMITATIONS

DETERMINED IN REGARDS TO THE ORIGIN, PURPOSE AND CONTENT

RESTORATION

  • an established and rapidly growing industrial sector based on the latest technology (developed by the government but privatized later in the hands of the zaibatsu)

Tests your understanding of sources

3 minutes in length

One source analyzed for question 9A and another in question 9B

Paraphrase, do not just copy

No bullet points!

PAPER ONE QUESTION FOUR

  • a powerful army and navy that would win two wars

"With reference to its origins, purpose and content, analyse the value and limitations of Source... for historians studying..."

5 marks/20% of total

5-7 minutes

"Since the origin of this source is... there are several limitations like..."

  • a new western criminal and legal code

"The content of this source gives the source significant value in that...."

"Because the purpose of the source is to..., it limits the value to a historian in that..."

Avoid just listing:

"The origin of the source is... The purpose of the source is... The values of this source are... the limitations of this source are..."

NO BULLET POINTS

FORMATTING YOUR ANSWER

25 minutes to write

"The message conveyed in source... about ... is..."

"What is the message conveyed in source...? "

"What is the importance of... according to source...? "

"According to the source, the significance of... is..."

"According to source... what is the significance of...? "

"The importance of.... according to source... is..."

HOW WOULD YOU BEGIN YOUR ANSWER TO EACH OF THE ABOVE PROMPTS

For HELP, see the "Source Type Value and Limitation" document on my Weebly. It is on the study skills page.

Look over the document "Paper 1 Question 12 Help on the Weebly. Read the instruction and the sample answer to get a good idea of what is expected in the source based essay question.

THE SECOND SINO JAPANESE WAR

15 minutes to record

FOUR SOURCES

WHY EXPAND?

FOUR QUESTIONS

ONCE GREAT POWERS LIKE CHINA & KOREA WERE CONTINUALLY WEAKENED THROUGH OUTSIDE EXPLOITATION AND INTERNAL DISFUNCTION

OPPORTUNISM

ONE HOUR

GEKOKUJO AT HOME

NAZLI CHOUCRI, The Challenge of Japan Before World War II and After: A Study of National Growth and Expansion

BABIES

GROWING

JAPANESE EXPANSION AND SUCCESS, 1894-1905

GEKOKUJO ABROAD

POPULATION

1932

FIRST

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR (1904-05)

SINO-JAPANESE WAR (1894-95)

1935

1936

RESOURCES

CAUSES

JINGOISM/MILITARISM

POLO

MARCO

SOCIAL/POLITICAL/ECONOMIC/IDEOLOGICAL/MILITARY/FOREIGN/DOMESTIC?

DOMESTIC DIFFICULTIES

Work together in groups of two to outline an answer to Paper 1, question 4.

In the early attempts, assassins and conspirators were almost always treated leniently because their motives were supposedly to help Japan become less corrupt.

When treated leniently, conspirators and assassins often spent very little time in jail and became semi-celebrities.

PRACTICE PAPER 1

Brief context, thesis statement, and outline for each body paragraph. In each outline, you must explain how you will use each of the sources below.

After 2/26, there actually was a public backlash against the conspirators and people like them.

In later attempts, government officials were successful in getting harsher sentences , even the death penalty, for conspirators. Ikki Kitta was executed in 1937

These assassinations and assassination attempts were often carried out without the knowledge of the high ranking military leaders.

The Control Clique put the Imperial Way generals on the inactive list and transferred the young officers to unimportant positions.

Several conspirators, both military and civilian, were executed, including Ikki Kitta. Martial Law was declared.

PRACTICES/EVENTS

The Army set to try to alleviate the conditions that caused the formation of the Rebels.

Causes of the Incident

However, the Control Clique did call for an aggressive, militaristic, foreign policy aimed pushing into northern China (as a breakwater against communism) and military influence in the government continued to grow.

BRIDGE

CARTOON TIME!

Responses to the Incident

RESOURCES

USING YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE MARCO POLO BRIDGE INCIDENT AND YOUT UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOOLS USED BY POLITICAL CARTOONISTS, CREATE TWO CARTOONS. EACH CARTOON NEEDS TO HAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE. BOTH CANNOT HAVE THE SAME MESSAGE/PERSPECTIVE.

Some, including Kanji Ishihari, feared getting bogged down in China. He believed the Soviets and the Chinese Communists wanted the Japanese to fight the Nationalists so that both would end up weak.

Seishiro Itakaki and Kanji Ishihari commanded the Kwantung Army

It was under these conditions that the Marco Polo Bridge Incident took place.

The Incident Itself

Some believed the incident should be handled locally. Others believed it should be used as a pretext to teach Chiang Kai Shek a lesson.

"No one realized that it was a declaration of total war with China"

TOLAND, 46

Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoye eventually agreed with the expansionists, who claimed the war would be over in three months. He also did not want his Cabinet to fall.

AFTER 1917

COMBAT COMMUNISM

Confusion and miscommunication over the event also made it easy to push Japan towards war.

Despite lack of permission from high ranking military officials, the Cabinet, and the Diet, the two continually used the Kwantung Army as their own personal forces.

Even Ishihari agreed when he was convinced that the Chinese would mistreat Japanese traders in the area.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL/ECONOMIC/IDEOLOGICAL/MILITARY/FOREIGN/DOMESTIC?

Saw Manchuria as the answer to Japan's problems.

ASSASSINATIONS

In 1928, they arranged the assassination of the ruling warlord in Manchuria, Zhang Zuolin, when he failed to stop the advance of the Chinese Nationalists.

"JAPAN HAD TAKEN THE FIRST GIANT STEP TOWADS WAR WITH AMERICA"

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/dec/03/guardianobituaries.japan

Or search "Ienaga Obituary Guardian" into Google.

TOLAND, 47

KANJI ISHIHARI

Why does this concern the US? What was the US response?

SEISHIRO ITAGAKI

Finance Minister Junnosuke Inoue

Finance Minister Korekiyo Takahashi

Prime Minister Tsuyushi Inokai

Head of Matsui Tamuka Dan

Chief of Military Affairs Bureau Tetsuzan Nagata

Prime Minister Keisuke Okada (attempted)

Grand Chamberlain Suzuki (attempted)

Inspector General Jotaro Watanabe

Japanese reaction, of course, was quick and bitter. "Japan is expanding," retorted Yosuke Matsuoka, a diplomat whose sharp tongue and ready wit was winning him many followers. "And what country in its expansion era has ever failed to be trying to its neighbors? Ask the American Indian or the Mexican how excruciatingly trying the young United States used to be once upon a time." Japan's expansion, like that of America's, was as natural as the growth of a child. "Only one thing stops a child from growing: death." He declared that Japan was fighting for two goals: to prevent Asia from falling completely under the white man's domination, as in Africa and to save China from Commumism. No treasure trove is in her eyes- only sacrifices upon sacrifices. No one realizes this more than she does. But her very life depends on it, as do those of her neighbors as well. The all-absorbing question before Japan today . . . is: Can she bear the cross?"

INCIDENT

In 1931, they arranged the Mukden Incident, leading to the invasion of Manchuria. This was just before they were to be relived of their command by the government.

"Japan also had all the railways built by Russia in southern Manchuria. Japan could have seized the rest of the country but wanted to be recognized by the Europeans as a respected member of the imperialist community.

Accordingly, she poured a billion dollars into the bandit-infested, sparsely populated territory, and maintained such law and order along the railroads that hundreds of thousands of Japanese, Chinese and Korean traders and settlers flooded into the area.

lt was this mass influx that had inspired Ishihara and Itagaki to envision a Manchuria free of its Chinese warlord ruler. Ishihara dreamed of making it an autonomous state, a haven for all of its ethnic groups: Japanese, Chinese, Manchurians, Koreans and White Russians. Here genuine democracy and eventual socialism would be practiced and a buffer set up against Soviet Russia."

Read the Obituary. What was Ienaga's goal as a Japanese historian? How did he go about achieving that goal? How successful was he?

CONSEQUENCES/EFFECTS

When they were told to limit their objectives by the Cabinet and the Army General Staff, they ignored the orders.

Read Chapters 1 and 2 (pages 3 to 32) of his book and take notes on them in your Evernote. Write down any questions you have about the reading in your notes as well.

TOLAND, The Rising Sun, p 7

WHERE?

This was Gekokuju on a massive scale.

Daily, Andrew. Access to History for the IB Diploma: Move to Global War

The cabinet & the Emperor refused to sign off on aggression, fearing how they would be perceived by the international community

SOCIAL/POLITICAL/ECONOMIC/IDEOLOGICAL/MILITARY/FOREIGN/DOMESTIC?

GEKOKUJO

EXPLANATION FOR THE OUTCOME

You will be assigned a group. One group will look at the Chapter "Misconceptions about China and Korea", the other will be concerned with the Chapter "Thought Control and Indoctrination".

Toland, John. The Rising Sun

The Rebels Manifesto from the 2/26 Incident

"The coup itself-named the 5/15 (May 15, 1932) Incident- had fizzled out, but it brought forth even more sensational trials. There were three in all, one for civilians, one each for the Army and Navy personnel. As usual a large segment of the public sympathized with the assassins, and there was general applause when one defendant declared that he and his comrades only wanted to sound an alarm to awaken the nation. The people had heard so much about 'corruption' that little sympathy was shown the memory of gallant little Inukai. His death was a warning to politicians."

5/15 Incident

"Feeling ran so high that 1O,OOO petitions far clemency signed and written entirely in blood, inundated officials at the trial. Nine young men from Nigata asked to take the place of those on trial, and to show their good faith enclosed their own nine little fingers pickled in a jar of alcohol.

One of Inukai's assassins did express regret but said that the Prime Minister had to be 'sacrificed an the altar of national reformation.' Another declared, 'Life and death does not count with me. I say to those who bemoan my death, ‘Do not shed tears for me but sacrifice yourselves on the altars of reform.''

The results of the trials could have been predicted. No one was sentenced to death and of the forty to receive sentences almost all were free in a few years. To the people they were martyrs, their own champions. Who else called far such drastic methods to end, the crippling Depression? Who else would lead the farmers and workers out of poverty? Who else dared publicly assail leading politicians, court officials and financial barons for corruption? And since so many people believed in this, so. implicitly, the power of the militarists and rightists continued to grow."

"The national essence [kokutai] of Japan; as a land of the gods, exists in the fact that the Emperor reigns with undiminished power from time immemorial into the farthest future in order that the natural beauty of the country may be propagated throughout the universe, so that all men under the sun may be able to enjoy their lives to the fullest extent…

In recent years, however, there have appeared many persons whose chief aim and purpose has been to amass personal wealth, disregarding the general welfare and prosperity of the Japanese people; with the result that the sovereignty of the Emperor has been greatly impaired. The people of Japan have suffered deeply as a result of this tendency and many vexing issues now confronting Japan are attributable to this fact.

The genro, the senior statesmen, military cliques, plutocrats, bureaucrats and political parties are all, traitors who are destroying the national essence. It is our duty to remove the evil retainers from around the Throne and to smash the group of senior statesmen. It is our duty as subjects of His Majesty the Emperor. May the gods bless us and help us in our endeavor to save the land of our ancestors from the worst that confronts it."

2/26 Incident

JAPANESE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT

KOREA

CHINA

AND ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST

As a group, make a mind map showing the major "misconceptions" and examples of "thought control".

Ienaga, Saburo. The Pacific War

After 25 minutes,be ready to present to the class.

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