1600-1997 Japan

1927-1930s Rise of Militarism and Extreme Nationalism in Japan

One word to describe international response to 1937-1945 Second Sino-Japanese War

1. Lukewarm
2. Ineffective
3. Performative

Road to War under Konoe

• July 1940: Konoe’s second term as Prime Minister

Economic context

• late 1930s: dependent on the U.S. for nearly one-third of imports, from cotton to scrap iron to oil
• 📈 1929-1932: Japan bought from the U.S. 36% (163,500 tons) of scrap iron → manufactured steel for munitions and ships
• 📈 by 1936: U.S. supplying 74% of Japan’s scrap iron (1,006,700 tons)

Geopolitical context

• the Americans had the West, the British had Asia (in terms of colonialization & spheres of influence)
• seeking SEA as a bargaining chip against American demands & influence, and also pragmatically oil fields