2. Origins of Japan prior to WW2
Japan developed in relative isolation
Japan is a very homogenous society. 99% Japanese - ethnically pure
Borrowed heavily from China and Korea
Shinto, Buddhist, Confucian religion
Samurai code

3. Early Western Contact
● In the late 1500's Dutch and Portuguese ships arrived and attempted to
establish trade bases in Japan
● Japanese had a negative reaction to outsiders, and isolated Japan by law from
the rest of the world for hundreds of years.

4. Beginning of Modern Japan
- In 1848, Admiral Perry, an American representative forced Japan to 'open
up' to American traders
- The Japanese were overwhelmed and awed by the white mans' level of
technological achievement

5. Japan wants a modern empire
● The Japanese immediately wanted to 'catch up' to the Americans and Europeans,
and to copy their empire model
● Japan hires outside experts to help them become modern. Examples:
● - retired German officers for building a modern military
● - British engineers for building railroads and telegraph lines
● - French lawyers for creating a modern legal & government system
● - American businessmen for developing a modern economy and manufacturing
● In addition, Japan sends its best and brightest students to study abroad in
American and European universities and technical schools and bring that
knowledge back to Japan.
● The late 1800's are a time of great change in Japan, old ways are pushed aside as
Japan attempts to begin establishing their own empire. Meiji Period – Japan forms
a modern government with an emperor figurehead

6. ●‘Last Samurai’ – Tom Cruise an American military expert
travels to Japan in the 1880’s to help Japan build a modern
military

7. Japanese expansion begins
● Japan lacks the necessary resources required for industrialization and begins
conquest into other parts of Asia for resources and living space
● 1890's – invasions of Korea, Taiwan
● 1905 – Russian/Japanese war. Wins naval battle for control of Korea & Manchuria
● 1914 (WW1) – takes several small German owned Pacific islands

8. Japan invades China
● By 1931 Japan is a major regional power and invades Manchuria
● By 1937 Japan launches a n invasion of China and commits severe crimes against
humanity there, and behaves more aggressively towards all of it's neighbors in
general RAPE OF NANJING
● Alliance with Germany and Italy 1937 Anti-Comintern Pact
● Japanese loose battle of Khalkin Gol against USSR in 1939 and then decide it is
better to expand in the South Pacific
● Official military alliance with Germany and Italy 1940 Tripartite Pact
● America stops trading with Japan, Japan is most affected by the loss of American oil
and steel 1941
● European colonies in Asia are easy targets after WW2 starts in Europe
● Japan has an Emperor Hirohito figurehead who is considered a God. In reality the
government is controlled by a military council lead by Hideki Tojo

18. Japan attacks America & European possessions
● Japan attacks the U.S. At Pearl Harbor, Dec 7 1941
● Japan cripples our fleet, and attacks everywhere in the Pacific
● U.S.A. declares war on Japan and enters WW2
● Brought to you by the following sponsors

19. ●Pearl Harbor
● Pearl Harbor 2 ½ minutes
● Absent students watch
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pearl+harbo
r&view=detail&mid=CFA2964745024B069063CF
A2964745024B069063&first=0&FORM=NVPFV
R

20. War in the Pacific
● Japan did not destroy U.S. aircraft carries at Pearl Harbor
● U.S. enters WW2 against Japan, Germany, & Italy December 1941
● Priority is to defeat Germany first, help Great Britain, USSR & China
● Lend-Lease Give food, weapons, vehicles, supplies to allies, they can
pay us back later …… U.S. is the Arsenal of Democracy
● Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942 U.S. aircraft carriers stop Japanese
surrounding Australia
● Battle of Midway 1942 turning point Japan launches its aircraft carriers
at Midway Island (near Hawaii) in an attempt to find and destroy the small
U.S. aircraft carrier group in the Pacific. U.S. breaks Japanese codes, sinks
several Japanese carriers, Janan now on the defensive – U.S. offensive
● U.S. economy now in a state of Total War, fast, massive growth of
military & industrial war production

21. ●Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942

22. ●Midway & coral sea
● Coral sea 2 ½ minutes http://military.discovery.com/tv-shows/world-
war-ii-in-color/videos/world-war-ii-in-color-battle-of-the-coral-
sea.htm#mkcpgn=snag1
● Midway 2 ½ minutes
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pearl+harbor&view=detail&
mid=CFA2964745024B069063CFA2964745024B069063&first=0&
FORM=NVPFVR

25. Japan swarms the Pacific
● Japan takes the Philippines from the U.S. Captures 70,000 U.S. Soldiers. Bataan
Death March
● U.S. POW's are tortured and marched to prison camps where they suffer inhumane
treatment for several years

28. Japanese Empire WW2
● Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere – name that the Japanese use
for their empire, it is supposed to convince other Asians to cooperate
● Japanese use propaganda to convince many Asians to rebel against their
European masters & work for the Japanese
● Cruel treatment & forced labor of other Asians happens very quickly
● Japanese believe in their own racial superiority, exterminate Chinese,
colonize China
● Kamikaze - ritual suicide & death rather than surrender to your enemy.
U.S. captures few prisoners during the war, most commit suicide -Kamikazi

29. ●Japanese Empire WW2
● Majority of Japanese army fights in China during WW2
Navy, Air Force & Marines fight against Americans
● Japanese believe democracies cannot tolerate lots of violence over a long
period of time……. So even though the U.S. is bigger & stronger …….
Make the U.S. suffer many bloody casualties so the U.S. will make a peace
agreement & leave Japan alone
● As the U.S. gets closer & closer to Japan…… Japanese become more
violent - suicidal
● By 1944-1945 U.S. submarines have destroyed most merchant shipping.
The U.S. Air Force bombs Japanese cities on a regular basis, but Japan
refuses to surrender

33. Island Hopping

41. ●Short movie links
● B29 bombing tokyo, cool footage of straffing jap trains
● http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g571TQHDvU
● U.S. B24 shot down 1:30min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lioRCye2Dug&NR=1&feature=f
vwp
● Fight on U.S.. Carrier deck…. Not too bad 4 min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=WPa_KyimFOk&feature
=endscreen
● Okinawa in color 3 min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
aduLWX2p-g
● Good kamikazi air battle – okinawa 9 min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aduLWX2p-g

43. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ_Ic4KFnaA&feature=related
10 MINUTE AMPHIBIOUS LANDING DOC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh72XctOv5M GEORGE BUSH PILOT RESCUE
http://youtu.be/yqnqLblyNa4 THE PACIFIC, PELELIE, MORTAR ATTACK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hziFBOx4yqc&feature=related
KAMIKAZE ATTACKS ON OUR AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65EShYbK5ww JAP CIVILIAN SUICIDES