Japan Trip: A Look into Japan’s Modern History
Before you begin your trip to Japan, enhance your experience by learning a little more about the modern history of the country. Understanding the episodes, which helped shape modern Japan, can bring deeper meaning to your travel as well as a more comprehensive look at this complex country.
Around the turn of the 19th century, famine and poverty spurred on by the ever-increasing presence of foreign ships began to weaken support for the government of Japan. In 1868, the existing Shogun resigned and Emperor Meiji took control and began to westernize and industrialize the country. In 1889 Japan created a Western-style constitution, and with it came a strength and courage of national confidence demonstrated through invasions of China, Russia, Korea and Taiwan. During WWI Japan sided with the Allies and took the opportunity to trade and expand its economy. Emperor Hirohito ascended to the throne in 1926. Unrest, due to the world depression and increasingly powerful militarists, Japan decided to invade Manchuria in 1931 and China in 1937.
When diplomatic attempts to gain US neutrality regarding the China invasion failed, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Initially Japan was successful, but by 1945 Japan had been driven back on all fronts. With the Soviet Union then declaring war on Japan, and two atomic bombs devastating the country, Emperor Hirohito surrendered and opened Japan to occupation by Allied troops that remained a fixture until 1952. With millions of Japanese dead, the country’s industries and infrastructure were all but demolished. Efforts to demilitarize and dismantle the emperor’s authority began and a recovery program boosted the economy to rapid expansion and production.
In 1947 Japan adopted a new pacifist constitution seeking to emphasize human rights, democratic practices, and international cooperation. With the arrival of the 1990s, Japan’s amazing economic growth came to a near standstill after a major stock market crash. The Liberal Democratic Party produced a number of leaders who attempted to solve the countries economic woes, until finally Koizumi, bringing a mix of nationalism and reform agendas, managed to help Japan’s economy climb out of its hole. Today, a trip to Japan, demonstrates the healthy and growing economy of the country.
