The Rise of Militaristic Ultra-Nationalism in Japan
From the 1920s towards their entrance into the war in 1940, Japan began a period of rapid militarization to modernize quickly and keep up with the Western world, who at the time was seen as a threat to less developed countries. Wars are often always talked about strictly from a militaristic perspective, but this StoryMap will discuss the economic, social, and ideological impact of Japan’s rising militarist state. Exploring the factors that led to Japan’s rise as an ultranationalist militant state, and its eventual downfall, can help fight the oppressive and racist stereotypes about Japanese people that have developed since this period.
This story also allows for an examination of the motives behind the policies, propaganda and willful distortions of truth that fueled pro-war sentiments in Japanese citizens and led Japan into entering the war - which resulted in complete destruction and humiliation after their defeat. By looking at the progression of events that took place, from the rising globalization to Japan’s entrance into the war, a more nuanced and open-minded perspective of the war can be understood that is seldom recognized in the traditional study of the two World Wars.
Map shows Western colonization around the world, particularly in Asia.
1920: Colonization and Depression
In the early 20th century, the West led a massive wave of modern globalization, which resulted in the colonization of numerous countries around the world. Globalization caused political and social tensions to develop worldwide, and its ramifications were felt especially in Asia, as seen with Japan’s Taisho democracy, France’s colonization of Vietnam, and China’s May Fourth movement. Japan was still unhappy with the treaties imposed by Commodore Matthew Perry back in 1853, which forced them to open their borders to trade and communicate with the Western world. Furthermore, the Stock Market crash of 1929 led to the Great Depression, which caused economies to collapse and authoritarianism to rise worldwide. Japan responded by adopting a highly militant, ultra-nationalistic agenda.
1930-1936: Japan rebuilds economy
The Great Depression left rural communities famished. Since their free market policies did not seem to improve economic conditions, Japanese citizens began to favor more economic control under state management. Japan increased government spending on public works and armaments, and lowered interest rates. From 1930-1936, Japan doubled their exports, which led to a strong recovery of the industrial sector. Japan knew it needed to be economically self-sufficient if they wanted to become independent and protect themselves against colonization from western powers.
Image: Japanese resources being cultivated and sent to Japanese factory to be exported.
To protect itself from what they perceived as the possibility of war with Western powers, Japan developed a National Defense State. Their rapid militarization efforts included the creation of the largest battleships ever made at the time. The National Defense State was a highly militarized government in which the political establishment made the militaristic decisions. This was how it asserted its power to other countries. The strength of the nation's economy was tied with that of its military. In Japan, power became more centralized as the Emperor assumed these responsibilities.
Image: This propaganda cartoon shows the transformation of Japanese aircraft into faster and more sophisticated war machines, which aided Japan's rising militarism.
Late 1930s: Ideological revitalization
This image encourages Japanese boys to support and join the military effort when they become of age.
Japan began to develop different methods to increase support towards military efforts. Using their public-school system, Japan indoctrinated their children with ideas including military sacrifice for the nation and loyalty to the Emperor. The revitalization of the Shinto faith abandoned Japan’s previously secular agenda and promoted the idea that the Japanese imperial line was divine and descended from the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. The Emperor was thought to represent the core of “kokutai”, which is the sovereignty of the nation, including its identity, essence and character. In the eyes of the Japanese, the militant, ultra-nationalistic state of Japan was the vessel to perform their mission, which they viewed as a sacred duty.
The hazy-blue quality of this image with Japanese soldiers in the background helps convey a strong sense of "kokutai", symbolizing the purity of Japan's essence and identity, along with Japan's militaristic success as a means of empowering it.
This idyllic Japanese villa visualizes the traditionalist values that empowered Japan's nostalgia for their past, though the Japanese media used this sense of sacred nostalgia to infuse their militaristic agenda.
Shinto's revitalization helped cultivate a strong sense of nostalgia for traditional virtues of Japanese village life. This romantic idealization of their past helped revitalize the “Spirit of Japan”. Realizing the ongoing colonization in Asia, the Japanese state pushed ultra-nationalist propaganda that rejected what they saw as selfish Anglo-American individualism. The growing rejection of capitalist greed and distrust of corrupt party politicians helped the Japanese state centralize power.
March 1, 1934: Puyi's Enthronement as Puppet Emperor of Manchukuo
As Japan’s militaristic state began to grow, they realized that the best way to increase power and secure their future was to expand its territory. This resulted in the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and the establishment of the state of Manchukuo. In 1934, the previously deposed Chinese Emperor Puyi was enthroned by Japan to serve as a puppet Emperor of Manchukuo. This shows how Japan was becoming the very thing that they feared about the Western powers in the age of international globalization. They had been embarrassed by the treaties forced onto them by the United States after Commodore Perry’s arrival and wanted to actively avoid China’s fate after the Opium War. In essence, they took control as the Western-style power of Asia and colonized several countries of Asia, including Korea, Manchukuo, and even numerous pacific islands during the Second World War.
Image: Puyi after his coronation as "Emperor" of Manchukuo.
February 26-29, 1936: Suppressing violence and revolts
As Japan neared its entrance into World War II, the Japanese media staunchly pushed the “Spirit of Japan”, which was an ultra-nationalist celebration that promoted a native Japanese "harmony". This movement fed off the fears of a large section of the Japanese population that feared Western colonialism and fed into the propaganda. Combined with economic regression in rural areas, unrest festered, which provided fuel for radical violence and political upheaval. Radical Japanese nationalists had visions of a militaristic empire and carried out assassinations when they felt that a choice made by someone in power weakened the Japanese state. As a result, this led to the assassinations of numerous Japanese politicians and businessmen, including two Prime Ministers. One was killed for agreeing to naval arms limitations, and some government workers were killed for trying to peacefully resolve the conflict in Manchuria. War ministers and officers turned on the government and condoned these attacks. Troops loyal to the Emperor surrounded the rebels and mutineers, some of which called for a “Showa Restoration”, and they surrendered. The leaders committed suicide and others were executed.
June - December 1937: Japanese Imperialism, Nanjing Massacre
Image: The Nanjing Bombing, in which mass atrocities were committed by Japanese soldiers against Chinese civilians.
After defeating Russia in war in 1905, Japan controlled the South Manchurian railway and the Korean Peninsula. Capturing the rest of Manchuria was very important, because Japanese officers had envisioned a "final war" between Asia and the West, specifically Japan and the United States, and felt that they needed the vital resources of Manchuria to win. On September 18, 1931, the Japanese Kwantung Army set up a small bomb to explode on their Manchurian railroad so they could blame it on China as an excuse to seize control of a large portion of Manchuria. Chinese soldiers were ordered not to resist, and the Japanese media celebrated the victory, which helped generate patriotic war fervor. Japan made Manchuria into a nominally independent new country called Manchukuo after enthroning Pu-Yi as puppet-emperor.
Based on how easily Japan had overrun Manchuria, and anti-Chinese resentment among the Japanese, Japan was eager to invade China. At Marco Polo Bridge, some Japanese soldiers fired shots, which was just a few miles outside of Beijing (“Beiping” at the time). The United Front was the formation of the Chinese communists and nationalists. Along with Chiang Kai-Shek’s leadership, the United Front escalated aggressions, which led to the beginning of massive war on July 25, 1937. This was escalated by Japan sending reinforcements, which led to Japanese soldiers going on a violent rampage and committing mass murder and mass rape of Chinese civilians in Nanjing. In the end, however, despite hoping that Manchukuo would help create their self-sufficient economy, Japan saw that it instead drained their economy further, which emphasized the need to rely on imported resources from several countries, including their anticipated enemy, the United States.
Image: Massive Japanese battleship at war.
September 27, 1940: Japan enters the war
Japan entered the war on September 27, 1940 when they signed the Tripartite Pact with Italy and Germany. They would be on the losing side and at that point, found itself fighting against almost the whole world. Despite its efforts to rapidly militarize itself and take its ultra-nationalistic approach, Japan's economy could not keep up with that of the United States, and its racist ideology of Japanese supremacy turned it into the very imperialist power that Japan had begun its militant journey to stand up against.
Conclusion
Japan began its emergence as a militaristic, ultra-nationalist power to stand against the threat of Western imperialist powers. Ironically, in their efforts to secure their future, Japan became the imperialist type power of Asia with their rapid industrialization and imperialist invasions in China, Korea and Manchukuo. The impacts of imperialism are still being felt today around the world, as can be seen in the escalating conflicts in the Middle East or in the persistent racism in America regarding how African-Americans and Native Americans are viewed and treated. Revealing its dangers and implications provides a better social understanding of history and helps to consider the perspectives of all parties involved in its events, rather than just assuming the imperialist perspective. Ultimately, this StoryMap aims to not only inform audiences of the chaotic state of Japan following its economic decline, but to help them develop empathy for the victims of militaristic, totalitarian powers.
