Japan Vocabulary – Flashcards
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Shinto
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'The way of the divine spirit' - Religion of Japanese people
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Shogun
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in feudal Japan, a supreme military commander who ruled in the name of the emperor
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Emperor
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Monarch - The head of Japanese Imperial Family
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Samurai
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class of warriors in feudal Japan who pledged loyalty to a noble in return for land
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Zaibatsu
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The large family-controlled banking and industrial groups that owned many companies in Japan before World War II.
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Commodore Matthew Perry
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the Commodore of the U.S. Navy who compelled the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854.
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Black Ships
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The ships in which Perry arrived in- sails were blackened by the coal. Japan feared and envied the ships.
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Kanagawa Treaty 1854
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Treaty between USA and Japan - Permanent peaceful relations between japan and the US - Japan will open 2 ports to the USA for trade - Japan will give protection to shipwrecked US sailors - Japan will allow the US consul to reside in Shimoda - Japan will grant the US the same privileges given to other nations in the future.
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Saigo Takamori
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a leader in the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, he later rebelled against the weaknesses of the Imperial government that he had helped to restore. Though his participation in the restoration made him a legendary hero, he is still regarded as the 'last true samurai'
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Kido Takayoshi
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Played a large role in the establishment of the new Meiji Government.
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Okubo Toshimichi
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One of the three great nobles who led Japan's Meiji Restoration beginning in 1868. Supported the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and supported the end of the Edo Period.
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Emperor Mutsuhito (Meiji)
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Became the young emperor after the collapse of the Shogunate. He realized the need for reform. This reform came through his reign know as the Meiji (Enlightened Rule).
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Treaty of Edo / Harris Treaty 1858
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Established formal diplomatic relations between Japan and the USA. - Open 5 more ports - 'Most favoured nation clause' - granted USA the same rights which might be given to any other country in the future
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Unequal Treaties
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Japanese regarded these new treaties as unfair. - They felt they were bullied into signing the treaties - The foreigners didn't give Japan equal privileges - Treaties favoured the interests of other nations
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Ito Hirofumi
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1st Prime minister of Japan and first Genro - ex-samurai who had worked to restore the emperor to power and who was a member of the new government
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Genro
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name of the aristocratic oligarchy of elder statesmen that controlled the Japanese govt. from 1899 to 1918.
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Sino-Japanese War 1895
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fought in korea between japan and China; japanese victory demonstrated its arrival as new industrial power
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Meiji Restoration
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the modernization and industrialization of Japan in the 1800's and the restoration of the emperor's power
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Rescript on Education 1890
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Stressed the importance of harmony and loyalty to the throne - formed the basis of Japan's philosophy on education
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Constitution of 1868
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To bring Charter Oath into effect and to define the powers of the new government and the rights of the Japanese people. - All authority vested in Dajokan - Members chosen according to noble rank - Giseikan (lower house) held little power - Members were elected from each clan, city and prefecture of Japan.
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Dajokan or council of seven
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Upper house of the Japanese parliament
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Treaty of Shimonoseki 1895
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Treaty signed to officially end the Sino-Japanese War - China had to recognise Korea as an independent state - The Liaotung peninsula, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands were given to Japan - 4 new Chinese ports opened to Japanese traders - Japan gained most-favoured nation rights on China - China had to pay an indemnity of 200 million taels
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Satsuma Rebellion 1877
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- response to undermining of samurai, samurai loosing privelages and status - nationalist rebellion led by samurai - saigo takomori, shogun, leads rebellion - samurai loose
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Constitution of the Empire of Japan 1889
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- The emperor was the absolute ruler or head of state. He was sacred and had complete control of the armed forces and the nation's foreign policy - The emperor could dissolve the diet, create his own legislation or dismiss and legislation from the diet. - Individual ministers who belonged to the cabinet were responsible to the emperor - The diet was made up of two houses: - Upper house - House of peers mostly made up of former daimyo - Lower house - House of representatives
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Russo-Japanese War 1905
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war between japan and russia over manchurian territory; resulted in the defeat of russia by the japanese navy
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Satsuma, Choshu
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Key outside daimyo territories in the south who were resistant to the treaties and who both had strong military traditions
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Tosa-HIzen alliance
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Alliances made between choshu tozai-hizen and satsuma to combine efforts to overthrow the tokugawa shogunate
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Charter Oath 1868
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Intention to modernise Japan - Deliberative assemblies established and all matters decided by public discussion - All classes will unite to carry out the administration of affairs of state - Commoners will be allowed to pursue his own calling - Evil customs of the past shall be broken - Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule
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Manchuria
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a region in northeastern China
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Hatori Edict
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Prohibited people (except for former daimyo, the military and law enforcement officials) from carrying weapons in public
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Sonno Joi
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Japanese Political philosophy used by those who sought to overthrow the shogunate and reinstate the emperor as the central figure of power
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Wakon yosai
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Meiji slogan that points to the nationalist goals of the state, which envisioned competition with the West as requiring both an aggressive modernizantion and an emperor centered power.
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Fukoku Kyohei
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"enrich the country, strengthen the military" Meiji Era, symbolized emerging nationalism in Japan, modernizing Japan's industries, ecnomic prosperity
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Russo-Japanese War
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Japan wanted Russia to recognise its position in Korea and if so would in return recognise Russia's rights in Manchuria
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Treaty of Portsmouth
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Treaty signed to end Russo-Japanese war - Russia recognised Japan's interests in Korea - The lease of Liaotung peninsula was transferred to Japan - Russia surrendered its control of the south Manchurian Railway ti the Japanese - Japan acquired the southern half of the island of Sakhalin - Both nations agreed not to interfere with any decision China might make in the future to develop Manchuria
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Taisho
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Era of Righteousness- imperial reign from 1912 to 1926
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Twenty-One Demands
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21 demands delivered to China 1. China had to agree to any Japanese arrangements for Shandong It was to: - never lease any part of Shandong to any other power - Allow cities to be opened for trade - Grant japanese the right to extend the railway 2. China had to agree to extend Japan's leases of prt Arthur and Dairen and its south manchurian railway agreements - Japanese citizens were to be free to live and work, enjoy extensive business rights and to exploit mines - no other country could build railways in this area 3. China had to agree to give Japan joint control of coal and iron mines in the Yangtse Valley 4. China was banned from making leases or cessions of its coastal harbours and islands to any country but Japan 5. China was to rely on Japan for all its political, financial and military advisers
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Yuan Shi-Kai
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Chinese general and first president of the Chinese Republic (1912-1916). He tried to thwart the efforts and democratic movement led by Sun Yat-sen.
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Great Kanto Earthquake
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destructive earthquake that struck Tokyo in 1923
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Hirohito
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Emperor of Japan
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Manchurian Incident 1931
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Confrontation that gave Japan the incentive to set up a puppet government in Manchuria. A bomb of unknown origin ripped the Japanese railway near Shenyang, the Japanese Kwantung army guarding the railway used the incident as a pretext to occupy South Manchuria.
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Manchukuo and Pu Yi
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new name for Manchuria and last emperor of China
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May 1932 Incident
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Ultranationalist army cadets and naval officers who assassinated Inukai Tsuyoshi - prime minister
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Kodo-Ha
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"Imperial Way Faction"
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Tosei-Ha
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"Control Faction"/"Technocrats"/"Reform Beureaucrats"
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Showa Restoration
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A plan and coup supported by thousands of people that called for the restoration of Japan's glory by honoring the emperor, defending the empire, & improving the lot of common people. It suggested comparable ambitions to the Meiji Restoration.
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Sonno tokan
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"revere the emperor, expel the evils"
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Marco polo Bridge Incident
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battle between the Chinese Revolutionary Army and the Japanese Army; started the 2nd Sino-Japanese War; signified the opening of Japan's invasion to mainland China
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Nanjing Massacre 1937
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rape, slaughter and torture of Chinese 1937
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Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere
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Japan offered to liberate Southeast-Asian countries from western colonial rule but instead used them as conquered land for natural resources
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French Indo-China
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the French colonies of Cambodia and Laos and Vietnam were formerly organized as French Indochina
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Tripartite Pact
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Pact between Japan, Germany, and Italy signed in September 1940, by which each pledged to declare war on any nation that attacked any of them
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Pearl Harbour
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Naval base in Hawaii attacked by Japanese aircraft on December 7, 1941. The sinking of much of the U.S. Pacific Fleet brought the United States into World War2
