JAPAN

Hirohito Solemn ceremonies marked the start of emperor Hirohito's rein. Reigned from (63 years) Hirohito gave Japan experience and remarkable success and appalling tragedies. He pledged world peace and wanted to benefit the welfare of the human race.

WW1 Growth Rapid economy growth Exports to allied nations soared Heavy industrial production grew, making japan a true industrial power. While western powers battled in Europe japan expanded its influenced throughout east Asia.

Democracy In the 1920's japan moved toward a widespread democracy Political parties grew strong. In 1925 all adult men won the right to vote. Political parties were manipulated by the Zaibatsu (zy baht soo)

Zaibatsu Zaibatsu's were the powerful buisness leaders. The zaibatsu influenced the government through donations. Favored international trade and their own interests.

Japan Japan's aggressive expansion began to affect its economic relationship with western powers. To protect relations, japenese politicians decided to slow down foreign expansion. In 1922 Japan signed an agreement to limit its navy with the U.S, Britain, and France. Japan also agreed to leave Shandong.

Appeal of Marx Japan faced some grave problems, rural peasants did not share in the nations prosperity. The cities factory workers earned low wages. Thier poverty drew them to the ideas socialist idesa of Marx and Lenin.

Western Interference During the 1920's, tensions between the government and the military officials, blasted government corruption, including pay offs by powerful zaibatsu. The economy grew throughout the 1920's it experienced many highs and lows.

Tokyo Earthquake One of the most destructive earthquake in history, struck the Tokyo area in The earthquake and the widespread fires it caused resulted the deaths of over 100,000 people and damaged more than 650,000 building. As many as 45 percent of surviving workers lost their jobs because so many business were destroyed.

Ultranationalism Economic disaster fed the dicontent of the leading military officials and extreme nationalist, or ultranationalist. western industrial powers, they pointed out, had long ago grabbed huge empires. Japanese nationalist were further outraged by racial policies in the United States, Canada, and Australia that shut out Japanese immigrants.

Manchuria Incident In 1931, Japanese army created an incident that gave an excuse to capture Manchuria. They blew up railroad tracks They tried to blame the Chinese for the explosion For self defense they then take over all of Manchuria The League of Nations said that what the Japanese were doing to the Chinese was wrong Japan dropped out of the league

Traditional Values The government took away the Democratic freedom of the socialists. Ancient warrior values were regained They tried to bring back emporers chosen from gods. Schools were created to teach children absolute obedience to there emperor.

Chinese Expansion In 1930s, Japan took advantage of China during Civil War Japan wanted a complete conquest of China But then WW2 broke out and stopped them 1936 Japan formed an alliance with Germany and Italy called the "Tripartite Pact" The war was brutal and was a wide ranged conflict in Asia and Europe