Lebanese University
Faculty of Letter & Human Sciences
History Department
1. My Master’s thesis is about The Political History of Japan between the Two World Wars. What do you think of my choice? Can you comment about this era?
2. The Meiji Period was characterized with major restorations in all fields. Give me your opinion about these restorations.
3. The Taisho Period was a transition period which didn’t have much significance. Do you agree?
4. During the early Showa Period, There was the raising of the Japanese power, the World War II, the disaster of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Tell me more about it.
Habib Al Badawi
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About Me
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Hello, I’m Habib Al Badawi, a researcher and student in the Lebanese University, History Department. I’m preparing my M .A thesis which entitled”The Political History of Japan between the Two World Wars”.
I created this blog in order to react with all who are interested in this historical era and would voluntarily contribute in the success of this project which I intended to continue till one day God willing I will earn a “P.H.D” in History. Preparing such important thesis in my country Lebanon made me face several problems. The main problem is the lack of resources and documents. There are rare Arabic references dealing with the “Japanese History”. The pioneer researcher in the Arab World is my professor, Dr. Masoud Daher. The other resources, which are also few in Lebanon, highlight the western point of view regarding these historical events. I’m trying in my thesis to discover the Japanese standpoint. This particular aspect is what I’m seeking from this blog.
I created this blog in order to react with all who are interested in this historical era and would voluntarily contribute in the success of this project which I intended to continue till one day God willing I will earn a “P.H.D” in History. Preparing such important thesis in my country Lebanon made me face several problems. The main problem is the lack of resources and documents. There are rare Arabic references dealing with the “Japanese History”. The pioneer researcher in the Arab World is my professor, Dr. Masoud Daher. The other resources, which are also few in Lebanon, highlight the western point of view regarding these historical events. I’m trying in my thesis to discover the Japanese standpoint. This particular aspect is what I’m seeking from this blog.
Thesis Outline
Introduction
Chapter One:The Meiji restorations and its influence on the birth of the modern Japanese state
Chapter Two:The triumph of Japan in WWI and the expansion of its regional influence 1913-1914
Chapter Three:The Blooming Era of the Japanese Empire 1931-1941
Chapter Four:Japan during World War II 1940-1945.
Closure
Chapter One:The Meiji restorations and its influence on the birth of the modern Japanese state
Chapter Two:The triumph of Japan in WWI and the expansion of its regional influence 1913-1914
Chapter Three:The Blooming Era of the Japanese Empire 1931-1941
Chapter Four:Japan during World War II 1940-1945.
Closure
6 comments:
Dear Habib al Badawi:
I am responding the survey as follows.
1. My Master’s thesis is about The Political History of Japan between the Two World Wars. What do you think of my choice? Can you comment about this era?
→ It is significant era for Japan, the nation which had been with unique civilization in it's long history of 2500 years. In the era, Japan did not only secure one's independence against Western Powers which conquest Africa, South America, and most of Asia, but also brought hope of independence to all of the colored people in the world.
2. The Meiji Period was characterized with major restorations in all fields. Give me your opinion about these restorations.
→ The Meiji restorations is the one of the greatest achievement in the history. At the beginning, Emperor Meiji, 122nd emperor of Japan, issued the Charter Oath of Five Articles which reflects the spirit of Emperor Jinmu, the first emperor of Japan who declared establishment of Japan in B.C. 660. The spirit was also reflected to the Constitution of the Empire of Japan reflects the spirits as the grand design of the nation, and the Imperial Rescript on Education as the basic principles for the nationals.
3. The Taisho Period was a transition period which didn’t have much significance. Do you agree?
→ It is important era as transition period for Japan to become strong and real modern nation after securing it's independence at the Japanese-Sino and Japanese-Russo War. In the era culture of Japan started blooming again after taking Western culture onto Japanese traditions. Also, in the era, Japanese politics and economies had become more sophisticated.
4. During the early Showa Period, There was the raising of the Japanese power, the World War II, the disaster of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Tell me more about it.
→ As you indicated in the Chapter Three of the Thesis, it is bloom of Japan Empire. The Empire means the nation which has not only strong military power and economic power, but also has strong cultural and civilization power. After 70 years from the Meiji Restorations, Japan finally stood up against Western Power for not only one's security but also for all of the colored people to make the world under peaceful coexistence. The Imperial Rescript to start the Greater Eastern Asia War declares it so eloquently. Although Japan must surrender after the nuclear attack onto civilians, as the result of the war all of the Asian countries became independent. And these independences also triggered independence of African countries in 1960s. As shown in the above, the Greater Eastern Asia War is quite rare war in the history, which won its objective while losing battle. After the war, Japan achieved great economic growth which brought "made in Japan" and "made by Japan" to all around the world. In conclusion, the Showa Period is great period for Japan when experienced raise and bloom for twice in 62 years and 2 weeks. The greatness was also proved by the fact that nearly 200 head of state/government or its deputy came to funeral of Emperor Showa and four countries declared the day as Memorial Day for the emperor and asked nationals not to work on the day. At last, the Imperial Rescript to end the Greater Eastern Asia War is one of the first denunciations of nuclear weapons which mentions dreadfulness of nuclear weapons, make everything meaningless by expunging everything.
Hope the above would help.
NISHIOJI, Tatsuki
Deputy Chairmen, the Society the Dissemination of Historical Fact
The Meiji period marks the largest assault on indigenous peoples and minorities cultures ever seen in Japanese history. Take a look at John Maher's work for more information about the language and cultural loss that followed. Also look to Rick Siddle's "Race, Resistance, and the Ainu of Japan." He shows how the conception of race crafted Japan's colonial conquests, creating Others for Japan to compare itself too.This is reflected in Japan's expansion and take over of East Asia.
The atomic bombing that ended WWII saved the life of my father, who would probably have been killed in the invasion of Japan planned for 1946. I thank Harry Truman for my life.
I will try to address some of your questions, but I would highly recommend reading Kenneth Pyle's Japan Rising, a history of U.S.-Japan relations from the Meiji Restoration to present.
More specifically, Pyle explains how Japan amassed much of its power during WWI (boosting trade substantially and taking German holdings in the Pacific), but decided to use this power for expansionism after the "Washington System"--a system built on liberal Wilsonian internationalism--was deemed a failure in light of the U.S. depression.
The Meiji Restoration was, in effect, a revolution. (Japanese leaders balked from calling it this as such terminology would have carried negative overtones.) No element of society was left unchanged. With that said, many of the reforms were empty promises simply offered to gain independence from the Western powers and their Unequal Treaties. An interesting facet of the Restoration (early-on) was the Iwakura Mission, about which several books have been published.
The Taisho period may not be interesting in and of itself, but it may be fruitful to examine why and how the democratic spirit of the 1910s and 1920s gave way to the militarism and ultranationism of the 1930s. Economic and international factors all play a role...
Check out the books I mentioned, and good luck!
Dear Habib,
I got an email from you. I recommend that you look beyond wars and treaties (political history) and consider cultural history (art, literature, anthropology, etc). There is information on the internet on both types of history on open course websites at some American universities. There is a lot of information available for example at:
http://www.columbia.edu/~hds2/index.html
Check out MIT's Open Courseware, you might find something useful. There are study materials, bibliographies, readings and lecture notes available to read online. You can search for courses.
Here is one example:
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/History/21H-522Fall-2006/CourseHome/index.htm
Good luck. You are smart to reach out with your blog.
Cordially I thank you for your time ,kindness & human spirit.
Sincerely
Habib
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