Through industrialization and colonization, Japan became an economically established participant of global competition over trade. To withstand Western pressure, Japan felt the need to industrialize because “Japan as an agricultural country cannot stand against Russia, Australia, Canada, or America.” (Doc 7) However, since Japan consists of numerous disconnected smaller islands, and it lacks valuable resources, except silk and coal, Japan struggled to meet the high demands of the Western consumers. As a result, Japan utilized its exceptional army to gain resourceful puppet states Manchuria and Korea, where gold, coal, iron ore, petroleum, copper and bauxite were abundant. (Doc 10) Japan’s effort to industrialize led them to establish colonies
