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Advance of Heavy Industry
Japan enters a second phase of industry, with the zaibatsu sponsoring expansion in shipbuilding and metallurgy. Electric power usage grew faster in Japan than anywhere else in the world. -
Tokyo Earthquake
Known as the Great Kanto earthquake, it caused mass devestation in Tokyo and across the Kanto region.Casualty estimates range from about 100,000 to 142,000 deaths, the latter figure including approximately 40,000 who went missing and were presumed dead. -
Defeat of Japanese bill for universal suffrage
Made redundant after World War 2 when suffrage was granted wholly to women. -
Rebellion in Korea; Japanese Repression
Japan's firm control over Korea created resentment, and cuple that with economic policies that did nothing for Korea as well as attempts to disrupt Korean traditions resulted in rebellion -
Rise of Nationalism; new hostility to West
The Pacific regions of Asia did not settle with the divisions that were agreed upon at the end of WW2. A decade after, the Phillipines,Indonesia, and Malaya were independent, reswulting in a resurgence of nationalism. -
Height of Depression, impact on Japan
Luxury purchases collapsed, leading to severe unemployment and, again, a crucial political crisis.Between 1929 and 1931, the value of Japanese exports plummeted by 50 percent. Workers' real income dropped by almost one-third, and there were over three million unemployed. Depression was compounded by bad harvests in several regions, leading to rural begging and near-starvation. -
Assassination of several Japanese political leaders; young army officer rebellion
A group of young army officers attacked key government and banking officers and murdered the prime minister, resulting in moderate military leaders heading up the executive branch and after a second coup increasingly militaristic prime ministers. -
Japan defeated; American occupation
Japan in 1945 was in shambles. Though it was capable of reestablishing a vigorous economy quickly. Though the occupying U.S. forces were eager to selectively "westernize" Japan. Working quickly to tear down Japan's wartime political structure. -
Korea divided
The U.S. had the Republic of Korea in the South. While the Soviet Union had the People's Democratic Republic of Korea in the North, with North Korea quickly becoming a communist state and N. Korea attempting to impose unification with S. Korea through force -
Korean War
Military conflict between North and South Korea with the UN and the Soviet Union supporting their respective sides. Ended with a border stalemate and armistice. -
Military Regime in South Korea
The Second Republic of Korea was overthrown and replaced by an autocratic military regime. The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Republics were nominally democratic, but are widely regarded as the continuation of military rule. -
British-Chinese Agreement to return Hong-Kong to China in 1997
Hong Kong was returned to China. Though the government promised to respect the free market system and maintain democratic political rights.
