The Rise of Japanese Empire

After restoration of Emperor Meiji in 1868, Japan rapidly modernize its society and military and began emulating the western colonial powers to expand its borders-.
The Qing Empire was battling against French encroachment on its holding in Tonkin (modern : northern Vietnam) in Sino-French war in 1884-1885. Qing Forces was relatively able to fend off land attack, but defeated in naval engagement with French's fleet.
This defeat urge the newly modernize Japan to upgrade its navy from merely coastal defense to active navy and restructuring its command chain.
Japan sought to conquer its immediate neighbor, Kingdom of Joseon/Choson (Korea). Although Joseon was nominally under Qing's vassalage. But Joseon able to repel western encroachment on its territory in French campaign against Korea (1866) and U.S in Battle of Ganghwa (1871). While Qing Empire was defeated multiple times by European powers.
Japan able to find excuse to force unequal treaty to Joseon in 1876 through Ganghwa island incident. This was the beginning of Japanese unequal treaties imposed to other asian nations.
Series of revolt in Joseon (korea) led to intervention by Qing Empire and Japanese Empire in 1884, temporarily settled by treaty of Tientsin (Tianjin) in 1885. But tension began to escalate between Incumbent major power of Qing empire against newly emerge Japanese Empire. Sino-Japanese war Broke out in 1894-1895 between Japanese Empire and Qing Empire over the control of korea. This war tested both nation's attempt to modernize its military. Although Qing Empire had larger forces and vast manpower, Japanese forces emerge victorious over the land (Battle of Pyongyang 1894) and sea (battle of Yalu river 1894) they even pushed to Manchuria and capture Liaodong Peninsula. But western powers (especially Russia) who wanted to carve up Qing Empire force the Japanese return the peninsula to Qing Empire.
This was the beginning of tensions between Russian Empire and Japanese Empire. Russian themselves who take part in second Opium War in 1860 able to annex Outer Manchuria (Vladivostok) and aim for establishing Russian port in Lüshunkou. in 1895, Queen Myeongseong of Joseon, King Gojong's wife was assassinated by Japanese agents in Gyeongbok palace. Japanese Empire regarded her as an obstacle to its overseas expansion. Feeling threatened in his palace from Japanese influence, king Gojong of Joseon sought refuge in Russian embassy during 1896. In his last attempt to keep Korean's sovereignty, King Gojong proclaimed Empire of Korea in 1897 with himself as Emperor. This act was asserting Korean independence from Qing Empire, Japanese Empire and Russian Empire. In 1899, fed up by foreign encroachment, Boxer rebellion erupted in China against imperialist powers of Britain, Russia, France, USA, Germany, Italy and Japan. Boxer themselves was supported by many Qing forces. in 1900 Boxer rebellion was suppressed by joint imperialist forces. This event made Russia sent large army to Manchuria, a move that threatens Japanese interest.
in 1905, Japanese empire declares war with Russian Empire for control of Manchuria. This event, only 37-years since Meiji restoration began, see Newly emerge Japan challenging major European power, Russian Empire.
Japan successfully defeated Russian forces defending Port Arthur (Lüshunkou) and drove back Russian forces reinforcing Manchuria. In sea, Japanese Forces successfully destroyed Russian Pacific fleet in Port Arthur (Lüshunkou). The only option Russia have is Baltic Fleet in Europe, while black sea fleet was unable to pass Bosporus strait due to strait neutrality between Ottoman empire and Major European powers. in 1904, The Russian Baltic fleet fleet depart from Talinn (Estonia). The Fleet fired British Fisherman boats in North Sea, mistaken it for Japanese torpedo boat. In response, Suez canal (controlled by British) was closed to Russian Battleships. Baltic fleet had to circle around the globe to get reach Japan. in 1905, Baltic fleet engaged with Japanese 'combined fleet' in Tsushima Strait. Although had more battleships than the Japanese, Russian fleet was outnumbered, undisciplined, and exhausted from its voyage. The Japanese fleet under Tōgō Heihachirō able to defeat Russian navy with 6 Russian Battleship sunk, while his fleet lost 3 torpedo boats.
As Japan was allied with Britain, Other European powers was not intervene with this conflict. After Russian defeat, Japanese forces replacing the Russian in occupying Manchuria. Unequal treaties between Qing Empire and japan following First Sino-Japanese war and Russo-Japanese war increase abusive behavior of Japanese troops toward local civilian. As Russian influence in far east weakened, Korean Empire was put under Japanese protectorates in 1905. Korea was fully annexed by Japanese Empire in 1910.

Music :
PC Games - Battlestations:Midway
composed by Richard Jacques & David Kates

[maverickfox]

A lot of these Japanese High Ranking Officers were once Samurai in their youth.

[konigstigerpanzerkampfwage]

The editor is so smart, he cutted every movie scene which is related to this video.

[angelusvastator]

Huge respect for Japan being able to become a modern power that can compete with the West in the Meiji era.

[WE]

"The War of Loong" (2017)
"Samurai X: Inferno de Kyoto" (Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno, 2014)
"Saka no Ue no Kumo", (2010)
"Gabi" (Ga-Bi, 2012)
"Empress Myeongseong" (Série de TV sul-coreana, 2001)
"The Sword with No Name" (2009)
"The 1894 Battle of Jiawu" (2012)
"Blue Brave: The Legend of Formosa in 1895" (2008)
"Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale" (2011)
"Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War" (1957)
"203 Hill" (203 Kochi, 1980)
"O Último Samurai", (The Last Samurai, 2003)
"55 Dias em Pequim (55 Days in Peking, 1963)
"O Almirante: Correntes Furiosas" (The Admiral, 2014

[danyaradimacher]

Japan was one of the first up and coming Naval powers that first implemented the use of armour penetrating shells that was to play havoc on the Russian navy during the Russo-Japanese conflict

[vestxaim]

Russia: invade Manchuria
Japan: You think you are strong boy, BUT I'M STONGER.

[moymoyish]

They were strong. No question about it.

[Matthew-qxdh]

As an American, I admire and respect our old enemy’s strength from its past battles.

[latibro]

Japan is a small country but they became one of the most powerful in WW2.
I think the Sengoku Period("Age of Warring States") made their people strong.

[khaitran]

Now they make hentai & anime body pillow

[channel-lhkb]

If the Empire of Japan had survived, China would not have grown so large and would not have been a threat to the world.
The collapse of the Japanese empire resulted in the communization of China and the division of Korea, and the power balance of Asia was upset.

It was a mistake to greatly weaken the Japanese.

[ijknpkk]

Germany: we regret having invaded other country

Japan: we regret having lost war

[Tokax]

As a Japanese, my favorite part of Japan history ngl

[shinsb]

japan is very powerful it's no doubt

[kingofjp]

What the Empire of Japan aimed for was the "new Asian order."
The new Asian order means that Japan will lead and unite Asia in order to counter Western colonialism.

In the 1800s, when almost all Asian countries except Japan were dyed by the invasion of Europe and the United States, the Japanese began to think, "Let's catch up with Europe and the United States and kick them out of Asia." From there, the Empire of Japan was born.

The Empire of Japan first occupied Korea on the pretext of protecting it from Russia, keeping an eye on the Korean Peninsula that Russia was trying to invade.
And the Japanese advanced to the eastern part of China to build the "Japanese-style China". For Japanese people, China was once the reliable Asian leader, but China in this era was lose to Britain and Japan planned to rebuild China.
Since the United States was not silent about this and stopped oil to Japan, the Japanese army advanced to Southeast Asia in search of oil and occupied it under the pretext of "expelling Westerners out of Asia."

Japan planned to make further progress, but it ended with the atomic bomb of the United States.
It does not make the Japanese army beautiful, but the Empire of Japan had a solid purpose.

[rasulpourjafar]

Japan is an incredible country with an amazing people 💜

[sunitasingh]

Their rise was a big slap to the leading european empires of late 19 th century and early 20 th century

[farisan]

Pre 1945 = the rise and fall of Japanese Empire
Post 1945 = the rise and invasion on weaboos

[やる気熱々]

Japan was a hero in Asia for liberating Southeast Asia and defeating Russia, but it was defeated by the United States and is now being treated despicably by the lies of the victors.

[cojimotomisashi]

A story of unforgotten and everlasting glory.