1. Japan Between the Wars

2. Political Taisho democracy - ruled by old oligarchy (the genro)
- tension between individual parties
Changes:
- independent press and bill of rights
- reduced military budget
- male japanese voting
- individual pressure groups rose

3. Social
- With the current economic system the poor became poorer and the rich became richer
- Tensions between the two sides
- Left Side = Generally Poor
- Right Side = Generally Rich
- Left side Marxist, made up of the work force
- Right side ultranationalist

4. Cultural - Tension between old and new
- some only wanted west, some only wanted traditional
- Eventually they blended traditional and western styles
Geishas were influenced by the west
Writing Styles:
I novel - western influenced writing style, the author confessed inner thoughts and showed self exposure.
vs.
Proletarian literature - inspired by soviet literature and served socialist goals.
Proletarian writing was working class propaganda in 1930s → censored

5. Major Zaibatsu Companies
Large companies created by Samurai and Daimyos
made up of different industries
controlled 35 % of shipbuilding, 21 % of the banking industry, 26% of mining, 38% of commercial shipping, more than 60% of paper manufacturing and insurance
four major companies: Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Yasuda

6. What is the zaibatsu economy?
Had a lot of control over certain manufacturing processes
such as boats exporting goods
other countries complaining about the increasing competition from Japan
How did it work?
invested their money into raw materials
met high domestic demand

7. Zaibatsu economy effects
Very high concentration of wealth → economic inequality
Government split in half
dual economy: modern industry with up-to-date methods vs. a traditional manufacturing sector
Increase in labor force
Increasing price of rice led to food riots
Poor became poorer → fled to cities to escape rural poverty
Rich became richer
Production of raw materials tripled
Industrial production increased 12x
Food shortages due to increase in population

8. Question 3 - Andrea, Tathy, Maya and Crista
1. How did Japan deal with a lack of raw materials AND foreign markets for their manufactured goods?
2. What were the international effects of how the Japanese dealt with the lack of raw material and foreign markets?

9. Lack of Raw Materials and Foreign Markets
Colonizing in different countries
Gain raw materials
Sell products
Seized territories
Taiwan, Korea and Southern Manchuria

10. International Effects
The West began to feel concerned of them as an aggressive empire
Paris Peace Conference 1919
Japanese demand for Shandong province (owned by Germany)
Aroused massive protests in major Chinese cities

11. What was the 1922 Washington Conference and what did they try and address? How?
Warren G. Harding
Conference of nations to discuss problems with:
Security in the pacific ocean
Armament limitations
Regional security
President of the US

12. Was it successful? Why or why not?
China:
Successful for China
Initiated a nine power treaty
Recognized the territorial integrity
of China and the Open Door Policy
Spheres of influence was over and
China no longer were influenced by the west
Japan:
Didn‘t affect Japan as much as China
Interest in other Nations for their resources
Under pressure to find new sources
Zaibatsu influenced the government
Known as the Shidehara diplomacy

13. What is militant nationalism?
When countries have a strong feeling of nationalism and they become aggressive in order to prove their superiority.

14. Why Japan turned to Militant Nationalism
Radical nationalists dominated
the Japanese government.
Most of the government were
military officers and ultranationalist
politicians.

15. Continued:
The ultranationalists thought that the diplomacy of the 1920s failed.
Wanted more aggressive approach to protect the national interests in a brutal and competitive way.