japan travel guide | history of japan part II | part of luketravels.com

 In 1867 the ruling shogun, Keiki, resigned and Emperor Meiji resumed control of state affairs, seeing Japan through a crash course in westernization and industrialization.

In 1889, Japan created a western-style constitution, the tenets of which seeped into national consciousness along with a swing back to traditional values.

Japan's growing confidence was demonstrated by the ease with which it trounced China in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-5) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-5).

Under Meiji's son, Yoshihito, Japan sided with the Allies in WWI. Rather than become heavily involved in conflict, however, Japan took the opportunity, through shipping and trade, to expand its economy at top speed. Emperor Hirohito ascended to the throne in 1926.

A rising tide of nationalism was quickened by the world economic depression that began in 1930. Popular unrest led to a strong increase in the power of the militarists: Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and, in 1937, entered into full-scale hostilities against China.