Japanese Imperialism Essay

In advance of the Second World War, Japan underwent a rapid phase of industrialization and territorial expansion. During that time, there was a significant increase in nationalism and militarism that strongly resonated with the Japanese people. The intense feelings of nationalism came from a strong sense of pride and the ambitious goal of making Japan a powerful player in the world. The combination of rapid industrial growth and a desire for military conquests pushed Japan into conflicts with other countries, which eventually led to its defeat in World War II.This essay contends that Japan's pursuit of dominance created multiple conflicts within Asia and beyond. Examining these clashes allows us to scrutinize how Japan's aspirations led it

The demand for inexpensive labor and raw materials to sustain this progress was the driving force behind it (The Age of Imperialism 1870–1914, 2). As Japan aimed to become a strong global player, nationalism quickly spread among the Japanese people, intensifying their desire for military power. Having colonies was seen as not only essential to military might and national security but also as an emblem of prestige among the Japanese population. Moreover, there persisted a belief that non-white nations necessitated Western powers' intervention through imperialism for them to become civilized. However, these were not the sole factors contributing to Japan's aggressive policies and actions; social Darwinism played a significant role by propagating white supremacy over other races. During the age of imperialism, there was a belief that white people were superior and had the right to conquer "inferior" peoples who were seen as incapable of governing themselves or achieving civilization without help from outside sources (The Age of Imperialism 1870–1914, 2). Henceforth, Japan's swift process of industrialization combined with its territorial expansion triggered nationalist passion among its citizens leading them down an aggressive path towards militarization. Due to strong beliefs of racial superiority and the necessity of colonizing non-white countries for security

This aspiration drove them into clashes with other countries as they aimed to spread their influence and acquire more resources. The tenets of "kokutai," which is synonymous with national identity, had an immense impact on this expansionist policy by promoting Japan's extraordinary cultural and political identity. However, aiming for dominance eventually became too difficult, as it created conflicts with powerful countries already in control, such as China, India, and Western nations. Ohno (2011) suggests that Japan's diplomatic approach towards advanced civilizations allowed cumulative progress without undergoing destruction from these societies. Nevertheless, Japanese leaders deemed themselves superior to others and believed in their ability to seize any territory at will. This attitude resulted in their participation in World War II against powerful allied forces across multiple fronts. Winning outcomes such as Pearl Harbor and Singapore were overshadowed by massive losses leading up to defeat via two atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States during August 1945. In summary, while there was success during Japan's pre-World War II period of expansionism; Japan also faced considerable obstacles due to conflicts that emerged from its quest for world dominance, ultimately resulting in military defeat after years of