Japanese Nationalism and Its Impacts in East Asia

Consistent with Japanese propaganda the nationalist leaders held belief that Japan was “the leader, protector and light of Asia”. However, this perception of liberation from colonial rule was a façade as the civilians of occupied nations experienced harsher treatment under the Japanese than they did under the colonial authorities.

When Japan was at the turning point of its economy and in the process of forming a new government, Nakae Chomin wrote A Discourse by Three Drunkards on Government, a political theory book that primarily deals with question of Japan’s future with an interesting debate between Champion and the Gentleman. Character Champion thought that Japan should step out of their isolated island and become more forceful in its handling of foreign disputes. He believed that Japan will stay weak if Japan did not have the strength and forces to conquer other nations. The Western learning Gentleman on the other side is a proponent of the modern Western notion of liberty and equality. He criticized Western nations for maintaining large armies that drained their economy. He suggested that Japan should abandon all attempts to compete with the West militarily and commit itself fully to the values that the West did not have. Approximately sixty years has passed since then, and Champion, Gentleman, and Master Nankai have gathered around once again to discuss the postwar Japan, the rise of the militarism, imperialist aggression, and the subsequent adoption

The Japanese empire was in great power by this time period, and they thought themselves as the king of the East Asian race. Japan, the “old order”, also believed that some day Europe and America would take over their power and become the “new orders”(Doc A). Japan was one

In the wake of World War Two, the power of Asian nationalism was irrepressible. Many new nations emerged all throughout this massive continent. Even though these various nations are different in many ways the way in which they came together hold true. Everywhere Asian nationalists rallied their people against colonialism and imperialism brought on by the various countries

During the late 18th century to the early 20th century, east Asia had been imperialized by western powers. Imperialism in east Asia during the period 1750-1945 was beneficial because of the economic growth, technological advancements, and political structure that progressed positively as a result of western imperialism. For example, Japan had been forcefully imperialized by the United States during the mid-19th century, however, the aftermath of this occasion was ultimately beneficial to the Japanese. Japan became imperialized because the U.S. needed a refueling and coaling base in order to trade with other east-Asian countries. Also, they needed a secure place to refuel in the east as Hawaii by itself wouldn’t be able to handle the trading

This academic journal by Martha Chaiklin, analyzes the efforts taken by various countries that eventually lead to the ending of Japanese isolationism. She first invalidates the notion that Commodore Perry with his gunboats were solely responsible for the opening of Japan. In contrast, the Dutch and liberal policies were greatly attributed if not solely responsible for the opening of Japan. Even the American led event that is attributed to the opening of Japan was in fact not a unique policy “ The United States was not the first to attempt to open Japan since all Westerners except the Dutch had been expelled in 1639. Both the British and the Russians had made several attempts in the preceding two centuries that had all ended in failure” (Chaiklin

Japan, on the other hand, saw that to save themselves they must start “drawing on all the modern West had to offer”. To be successful they knew they would have to strengthen their rule with the imperialist views. They built their foundation off of the views that were brought during the Western Imperialization showing them to be successful. Also, “Japan was of less interest to Western powers

The purpose of this thesis is not to single out Japan as an overly conservative nation run by older generations who are making the lives of the Lost Generation more difficult. The Baby Boomers in politics are attempting to return to a Japan that is respected and revered by the public. Several countries including America are guilty the same institutional drive to turn back time. However, the argument that “everyone does it” should not excuse any nation from facing the truth and the repercussions of their actions. Erasing any unsavory areas of history and reinstating previously discredited societal viewpoints under a new guise is not the way to increase national pride. Doing so can breed animosity like what we see in China, Japan and Korea today.

Japan’s political structure during the 19th and 20th Century would shift dramatically just as China’s did. After hundreds of years of rule by a Tokugawa feudal system, Japan was isolated and there was much division within the

in a mere half-century Japan had gone from a backward country being virtually dismissed by the West as an obscure and rather backward to being recognized as a major world power. It was arguably the most remarkable achievement of any nation in world history. (Henshall, 1999, P102)

The first step of the Japanese plan for world domination, the effects of this war are still felt today. Japanese ties with China and other Asian countries are still strained due to the Japanese invasion of these countries and atrocities Japanese while occupying their neighbors. It is important for us, half the globe away, to understand this conflict, and to gain a better understanding of how this event shaped the politics of the region

Yasuhiro Nakasone was in office for about five years, one of the longest Prime ministers to stay in office and develop a friendship with a U.S. president. Ishihara stresses the importance on Nakasone taking a more dominant leadership with Reagan versus being a passive and “yes” man to America’s demands. Also, Ishihara blames Nakasone for Japan’s passive role in U.S.-Japanese relations. Ishihara also demands that Nakasone to use his friendship with Reagan to probe America to focus more on Japan as an ally. Ishihara continues to question the mutual and respected relationship between Nakasone and Reagan. Ishihara expresses that Japanese needs and wants had to be fairly addressed by the American government. However, Ishihara believes that America doesn’t care for the Japanese complaints because often times the Reagan administration demands were met, while Japanese demands were ignored. This unbalanced “friendship” made Nakasone a villain in the eyes of Ishihara and possibly with Japan. If this was a “friendship”, Nakasone should have understood the fear that the Reagan administration held against Japan’s “amazing high technology, Japan’s greatest strength”. This “friendship” is questionable, but overall the U.S.-Japanese relations continually attempt to be cooperative, while targeting economic, political, and security

The ‘Champion’ goes as far as to propose the invasion of a “large country… vast and rich in natural resources” (Pg. 99) which will fuel the advancement of Japan at an unprecedented speed into a world power. This case, very much aligned to realpolitik, illustrates that the ‘Champion’ and Chomin both understood that Japan held an insignificant role in international politics in the 19th century due to its small size and limited resources, and that the policies that Japan makes should be directed towards nullifying such structural

As seen in the novel Sanshiro, “Everything is moving in a new direction, and we must not be left behind” (Soseki, 104), this quote from Sanshiro perfectly sums up how Japan maintained a sense of nationalism amongst its citizens while also implementing economic and organizational changes, all tying to what Rousseau’s social contract discusses about the tie between the sovereign and the individual

Fully understand the dominance of the LDP over the Japanese politics, which sets Japan apart from Western