Japan

Japan is a liberal, colonial, capitalist state in Eastern Asia, it is near China, South Korea and Russia. The state claims 6,582 the 11th largest population of any state and the largest city, Tokyo, holding 38 million people. It claims the third largest economy, the most highly educated population, the longest average life expectancy and some of the best health outcomes for people at all ages.

However, Japan has many, many issues. It has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, a declining population, a toxic culture, consumes massive amounts of fossil fuels, has a sexist culture (Japanese women are also heavily fetishised by men in the West).

Positives and Negatives

Negatives

• Japan has a strong issue with poverty, with around 16% of the population being estimated to live in poverty in 2013, 33% of Japanese women who live alone are likely to live in poverty.
• Japan does not have civil rights legislation which prohibits or penalizes discriminatory activities committed by citizens, businesses, or non-governmental organizations.
• In 2003, a law was passed allowing transgender people to change their legal gender on legal documents. Approval requires being over 22 years old, unmarried, undergoing sex reassignment surgery, sterilisation, and have no minor children. This is pretty transphobic.

History

Meiji Restoration

Main Article: Meiji Restoration

Japanese Empire

The short-lived Japanese Empire began in 1894 as it invaded Qing China, taking Joseon Korea, Taiwan and several smaller islands in 1895. Japan challenged the Russian Empire in 1904 for control of nearby ports in China and won, with some massive global consequences. In World War I, Japan sided with the Allies and took the German Empire's colonies in Asia and tfhe Pacific and helped invade Russia during the Russian Civil War, stationing troops there until 1924.

The military carried out massive purges of the left (notably anarchists) and ensured a military-dominated government. In 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria (northeast China) for resources and quickly won, and in 1937 invaded again, planning to take all of China and beginning one of the most disastrous wars in human history. In response, the US cut off oil shipments, leading to the bombing of a US naval base in Hawaii in an effort to force the US to open oil exports, but simply led to US entry into World War II and the rapid loss of territory and the nuclear and firebombing of Japanese cities until they surrendered, the military-dominated government was disbanded and the US turned Japan into a liberal client state.

Boom Years

Following World War II, Japan went through an economic boom and Japanese culture became popular internationally. Much of the country moved into cities and the countryside declined.

Decline

Since the 1990s, Japan has begun to decline. Japan has experienced a major recession, government scandals, declining population, several major natural disasters and a huge terrorist attack. An epidemic of loneliness and unhappiness has swept the youth and the country has a high suicide rate. This has led to a resurgence of far-right politics and mental illness.

Major Social Struggles

• 1918: Food Riots
• 1945: 133 Workplace Takeovers
• 1956: Sunagawa Struggle
• 1966: Sanrizuka Struggle
• 1967: Student Movement
• 1970: Koza Riot
• 1990: Osaka Workers' Uprising
• 2018: Bus Strike

Notable Japanese People

• Kōki Ishii
• Ono Tozaburo

See Also

• Japanophobia