Journey into Japan: Tragic consequences of Japan's modernisation

SUBJECTS:  History

YEARS:  7–8, 9–10

Japan went through a remarkable transformation between 1868 and the death of the Emperor Meiji in 1912.

But Japan's modernisation was accompanied by its rise as an imperialist power, with tragic results.

Watch this clip to learn about the consequences of Japan's dream of empire.

This clip is last in a series of six.

Things to think about

1. 1.What were the consequences of Japan's transition from a traditional, isolated society to a modern industrial nation? Japan started building an empire, taking territory from China in 1894-95, defeating Russia in 1904-05, annexing Korea in 1910, invading Manchuria and northern China in 1931-32, and launching a full-scale invasion of China in 1937. In 1941, Japan entered World War II on the side of the Germans.
2. 2.What were some of the enduring legacies of the Meiji era in Japan? The narrator is filmed in Peace Park in Nagasaki. What happened there on 9 August 1945? How many people died on that day and how many more were injured? What was salvaged from the ruins of Nagasaki's Christian church?
3. 3.Although Japan had a civilian government in the 1930s, there was growing support for military incursions into neighbouring countries in search of resources and markets. Use appropriate sources to find out about the impact of Japanese military interventions in Manchuria, Japan or Russia.
4. 4.The narrator describes the dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as 'a tragic, nightmarish end to a dream of empire'. This event marked the beginning of the nuclear age. Find out about the arguments for and against the use of nuclear weapons to force Japan's surrender in World War II and give your views on whether or not their use was necessary.

Acknowledgements

Produced by ABC and Japan Foundation.

Date of broadcast: 5 Jul 1979

Copyright

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