Japanese Imperialism Analysis

A critical analysis of Japanese history reveals that Japan was never a subject of imperialist control. Japan adopted a unique strategy of imperialism as a way of preventing any foreign invasion. The Japanese people were determined to resist any form of domination by western powers. For this reason, Japan adopted imperialism and focused on expansion, an aspect that was common among the European countries. Unlike other Asian countries, Japan pursued imperialism and registered significant outcomes. Different scholars have been interested in understanding Japanese imperialism and its unique characteristics, and they have explored important questions surrounding Japanese imperialism. These questions include the reasons that prompted Japan to embrace …show more content…
Japan was able to achieve significant outcomes by embracing colonialism. For this reason, it is apparent that Japan adopted a system that was peculiar to its circumstances. The case of Japanese imperialism was significantly different from the cases of European countries and the United States. Japan was a latecomer in the world of imperialism. Japan made a clear decision of exploiting all its opportunities in the establishment of colonialism. Japan's intentions to pursue colonialism became evident after the Tokugawa foreign policy that sought to open up Japan to foreign influence. The policy motivated Japan to embark on a rigorous process of transition into an imperial power. There was a significant measure of technological innovation as well as cultural and intellectual advances that prepared Japan to become an able competitor in the world of …show more content…
At that point, Japan wanted to prove a point that it was not going to allow Western powers to control its territories. The Meiji State and Reformers made a powerful statement against the potential influence from the West. For this reason, Japan allowed herself to make some decisions as it ventured deeper into imperialism. The Japanese leaders were aware that an imperial power required a strong military and proper organization for it to survive. Japan went further to control China and Korea before the western countries could establish their influence. Japan did not consider her neighbors as unique contributors to the level of imperialism in Asia. For this reason, Japan adopted an attitude that conformed to the Western ideologies of imperialism. It was apparent that Japan was willing to pursue all the changes required so that she could become a recognized imperial power. Japan increased its funding and support of the imperial army and recruited a large percentage of young people into the Army. In the early twentieth century, Japan focused on achieving some of the initial goals of the Meiji era of establishing control over Korea. Despite its unique circumstances, Japan was able to register remarkable outcomes by pursuing