Decades of Turmoil: The World Wars and Their Consequences
Japan’s Ongoing Development (between WW1 and WW2, 1918-1939)
By the 1920s, the Japanese economy soared and became modernized
Japan had huge businesses (called zaibatsu) and shipbuilding and metallurgy grew
A new consumer culture emerged (ex: people went to movies and read newspapers)
Universal education began, more people went to college, and Japan catching West in technology
Japan’s economy vulnerable to what was going on in the world b/c relied on selling exports (ex: silk exports weakening b/c of competition from Western made artificial fibers like rayon)
Japan had huge population growth (1868 = 30 million, 1940 = 73 million) which led to crowded cities and poor living conditions
Japan hurt by Great Depression in 1930s, but military spending for WW2 helped recovery
Korekiyo Takahashi = Japanese minister of finance in 1930s who encouraged government spending (government provided jobs which helped stimulate economy)
By late 1930s, Japan had 3rd largest navy in world, and basically caught up to West technologically
Political Crisis and Growing Militarism
While the Japanese economy was growing, politically Japan was going through a crisis
Starting in 1920s, Japan’s military leaders had major influence over foreign policy decisions
Military leaders opposed civilian leaders, who wanted to limit spending on military (ex: civilian leaders angry when military leaders decided to take Manchuria from China)
As Great Depression set in, conservative nationalist groups began rejecting Western influences that had begun to spread to the quickly modernizing Japan
These conservative leaders used the Great Depression to attack parliamentary system as weak
A series of coups (rebellions) took place in Japan in the 1930s
1932 = Prime minister killed by group of conservative military officers, though they didn’t rule Japan, and instead a moderate military rule was established (no more civilian rule thought)
1936 = A failed coup was attempted, but more militaristic prime ministers began leading Japan
Tojo Hideki = General who helped prevent 1936 coup, pushed for military-style rule in Japan
By 1938, Japan had expanded (controlled Manchuria, Korea, and Taiwan, from which it sold exports and got imports) and leaders wanted to further expand Japan
Change in Other Pacific Rim Areas
B/t WW1 and WW2 the countries in the Pacific Rim (east Asia) each had different experiences
Japan controlled Korea during this time (Japan exploited Korea, leading to resentment by Koreans)
Chinese culture no longer dominant influence on Korea, as Japanese put their stamp on Korea
Japan abolished Korean monarchy in 1909 and limited power of Korean court aristocracy
Korean language newspapers banned and Japanese weights and measures and money used
Resources in Korea were given to Japanese businesses, and Korean peasants forced to grow rice for export to Japan and other foreign markets
While terrible, the economic exploitation of Korea by Japan had some beneficial effects
Keys to later economic success of Korea developed under Japanese rule
Korea’s Christian minority became a basis for independent identity under Japanese occupation
Singapore = Part of Britain’s Malaya colony; city with largely Chinese population; underwent important development in 1930s when British tried to build it into strong naval base
Singapore was major international port w/ access to rubber and tin producing areas of Malaya
Occupied by Japan during WW2 which led to widespread poverty after the war
East Asia in the Postwar Settlements
New Divisions and the End of Empires
Asia was totally restructured after WW2 by the Allied nations that won the war
After WW2: Korea divided, Taiwan returned to China, Europeans regained colonies of Vietnam, Malaya, and Indonesia (though each soon got independence), U.S. regained control of the Philippines (though soon granted it independence), and Japan was occupied by U.S.
Japanese Recovery (Post-WW2 Japan)
Japan was totally destroyed by the end of WW2 (1945) but experienced a rapid recovery
The U.S., which occupied Japan after the war. avoided punishment and helped Japan recover
General Douglas MacArthur = Led U.S. occupation of Japan; ended military rule in Japan
Americans supported democracy in Japan – gave women right to vote, encouraged labor unions, as abolished Shinto as state religion
U.S. also reformed Japan economically – helped small farmers by breaking up large estates, and also broke up the powerful zaibatsu
A new constitution was written, and parliament was made the supreme ruling body
Japan’s military was abolished (U.S. vowed to protect Japan), which made Japanese people happy since they had grown wary of military rule
The emperor became a figurehead, with no political power and no longer considered holy
Japanese had parliamentary system in past, so transition to new constitution went smoothly
Japan became democracy that allowed different political parties, but it was unique b/c only one party ruled for decades
Liberal Democratic Party =Moderate political party; dominated Japanese politics
Women had gained right to vote, yet their condition was worse than women in the West
Japan placed huge emphasis on education, w/ rigorous exams to determine next level school
Korea: Intervention and War (Post-WW2 Korea)
Korea had many problems after WW2, and was divided into two nations
Republic of Korea = South Korea, supported by the U.S., had authoritarian government led by Syngman Rhee (not a democracy, but not communist which U.S. liked)
People’s Democratic Republic of Korea = North Korea, supported by the Soviets, led by communist dictator Kim Il-Sung until his death in 1994
Korean War (1950-1953) = N. Korea attacked S. Korea (tried to make 1 communist nation)
United Nation forces, led by the U.S. and Douglas MacArthur, drove the North Koreans out of South Korea and all the way back to the Chinese border
War turned into a stalemate and original border was kept, and fighting ended in 1953
After the Korean War, North Korea and South Korea continued to develop very differently
North Korea became isolated
South Korea was helped by American aid and the economy grew
Still today, there is much tension along the border between the two Koreas
Emerging Stability in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore
Taiwan after WWW2: (this will be discussed more in chapter 35)
Civil war in China (1945-1949) led to communists taking over mainland China (the nationalists fled to Taiwan and established authoritarian government under Chiang Kai-shek)
In another part of Pacific Rim, Hong Kong and Singapore had close ties to the British
Hong Kong = Remained British colony after WW2, though gained more autonomy over time, and in 1997 it was given back to China
Singapore gained independence from British in 1971
From 1960s onward, these areas had international influence due to manufacturing and trade
Japan, Incorporated
The Distinctive Political and Cultural Style
Japanese politics very stable as Liberal Democratic Party held power from 1955-1990
Unlike other democracies where power shifts b/t political parties, Japan dominated by 1 party
Wasn’t until late 1980s when political scandals emerged that people challenged the 1 party
Japan’s government was very supportive of business, which allowed industry to soar
“Japan, Incorporated” = Nickname for Japan b/c government was so pro-business
Culturally, Japan preserved many of its traditions
Painters and architects influenced by the international style, but put a Japanese twist on it
Orchestras played Western composer music, but they incorporated Japanese flute and zither
While Japan borrowed culture (adding Japanese twist), Japanese culture didn’t spread to world
The Economic Surge
Japan’s biggest impact on world was economically, starting in mid 1950s
By 1970s, Japan was one of top 3 economies in world, (by 1983, Japanese economy bigger than both Koreas, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Australia, and Brazil combined)
Per capita income (average salary) was still behind the West, but only slightly
Japanese corporations did huge international business, especially selling cars and electronics
There were several reasons for this rapid economic growth post-WW2
The government actively encouraged economic growth (remember, “Japan Incorporated”)
Since Japan had no military, that money was spent on education, and this major focus on education allowed Japan to produce more engineers than anywhere in world
Japan’s labor policy worked well (how workers were treated)
Group loyalty was encouraged (ex: morning exercises that workers would do together)
Managers listened to ideas of employees, so workers felt they had stake in company’s success
Managers took active interest in employee suggestions making them feel important
Japanese reluctant to take vacations, and thus had less leisure time than workers in the West
Family life in Japan was different from family life in the West
Despite access to better education, Japanese women did not gain as many rights as they did in West (Japanese women expected to be housewives and moms)
When raising children, conforming to the group was a trait instilled in the child (unlike West)
Tough exams and little leisure time led to many Japanese having a lot of stress, and it was more acceptable in Japan to go on drinking binges and visit Geisha houses
While Japanese tried to maintain culture, there were changes in popular culture over time
Baseball became popular beginning when Americans occupied Japan after WW2
Tensions b/t older generation (preserve traditions) and younger generations (open to West)
Another change that arose was pollution becoming a major problem in Japan by the 1960s, and some people began wearing masks in public
The 1990s brought new questions to Japan
The Liberal Democratic Party lost power due to corruption, ending long 1 party rule
Economic problems set in, and a severe recession led to large-scale unemployment
The Pacific Rim: New Japans?
The Korean Miracle (Post-WW2 South Korea)
Other than Japan, South Korea saw the biggest economic growth in the Pacific Rim
South Korea was generally ruled by authoritarian, militaristic leaders, mostly army leaders
In 1980s, protests ousted military leaders from power, but conservative leaders replaced them, so things didn’t change much
Like Japan, South Korean government mostly focused on economic growth
Huge industries were created, partly by the government, and partly through private ownership
By 1980s, South Korea was competing with Japan in consumer goods, steel, textiles, and cars
Like in Japan, huge companies emerged which had a lot of political clout
Hyundai = South Korean multinational automobile corporation; had so much power it basically governed southeast South Korea (built ships including petroleum supertankers, built thousands of homes, sold to low paid workers, at below market rates, built schools)
Since Hyundai provided cheap homes and schooling, workers put in 6 day work weeks with only 3 vacation days per year
The economic growth of South Korea produced a lot of changes for the nation
