Doc 1A: The University of Texas- Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
JAPAN - Minerals from Map No. 78643, 1971
Document 1: Maps of China and
Japan
Questions:
1. How big is China compared to
Japan?
2. How many minerals can be
mined in Japan?
3. How many minerals can be
mined in China?
4. Why would Japan want access
to Chinese minerals?
Doc 1B: Map of Asia
China
Japan
CHINA- Fuels, Power, Minerals, and Metals from Map No. 500410, 1971
Doc 1C: The University of Texas- Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
Document 2: “Some Questions for President Roosevelt” (1939) By Nagai Ryūtarō
Introduction: Nagai Ryūtarō (1881-1944) was born into an impoverished former samurai family. After
working as a journalist and a professor at Waseda University, Nagai became a politician, serving as a
member of the House of Representatives from 1920 to 1944.
Early in his career, Nagai had the reputation as a reformer and social activist. In the 1930s, however,
reflecting the trends of the nation as a whole, Nagai embraced more conservative and nationalist positions.
In this 1939 piece, Nagai lays out a justification for the Japanese invasion of Korea, China and other Asian
countries.
Doc 2A:
“The total land area of the earth is estimated at approximately 50 million square miles,
of which some 30 million square miles, or three‑fifths, is in the hands of only four great
Powers: Britain, France, the USSR, and the United States. Moreover, these four great
Powers, have veered in the direction of closed economies, closing their doors to outside
immigration and raising high tariffs.
America has been deeply concerned with Japanese activity in Asia, but seems to
overlook the fact that Japan has had to follow her present policies due to America’s
closed door to Asian immigration and closed markets to Japanese imports. …”
Doc 2A Questions
5. Why did Japan care about the state of international trade, especially that controlled by Britain, France,
Russia and the USA?
6. How would the fact that Japan can’t trade with the USA lead them to invade Korea, China and other Asian
nations?
Doc 2B:
“If the peoples of Europe and America have the right to make their own resources
inaccessible to others and create their own self‑sufficient economic structures, then the
peoples of Asia have the same freedom to exploit their own natural wealth and establish
their own self‑sufficiency.”
Doc2B Question
7. How will invading Asia make Japan self-sufficient?
Doc 2C:
“Japan is enthusiastic to work with other Powers that will respect the independence of
all races in Asia and which will work with these races on the principle of equality. With
those nations, Japan is only too willing to develop the natural wealth of Asia, open up its
markets, and construct a new community without oppression or extortion. Japan
sincerely believes that it is her duty to build a new Asiatic order in which the peoples of
Asia will really enjoy freedom, independence, and peace. …”
Document 2C Question:
8. What do they say they will do for the people of Asia?
Document 3: Taft-Katsura agreement (1905)
Introduction: Through a series of events that included the Sino‐Japanese and Russo‐Japanese Wars (both
largely fought in and around the Korean peninsula), Japan gradually emerged as the dominant foreign
power in this region. Despite Korean resistance, Korea was made a protectorate of Japan in 1905.
The following is an excerpt of a confidential conversation between Count Katsura of Japan and Secretary of
War, William Howard Taft of the United States the morning of July 27th, 1905. It is important to note that
the USA had an alliance with Korea when this conversation took place. Historical Note: The Philippines
were a colony of the USA at the time.
“First… Count Katsura confirmed in the strongest terms and positively stated that Japan
does not harbor any aggressive designs on the Philippines…
…Third, Count Katsura observed that Korea is a matter of absolute importance to Japan.
...Secretary Taft fully . . . remarked to the effect that . . . the establishment by Japanese
troops of a suzerainty (political control- Korea would become a colony of Japan) over
Korea was the logical result of the present war (with Russia) and would directly
contribute to permanent peace in the East. His judgment was that President Roosevelt
would concur (agree) in his views in this regard . . . .”
Doc 3 Question
9. What agreement did Katsura and Taft make regarding Korea and the Philippines?
10. Based on the results of this conversation, what conclusion can Japan make about how the USA will react if
Japan invades other countries in Asia?
Document 4: “The Old People and the New Government” By Komatsu Midori
Introduction: Japan annexed Korea in 1910, whereupon the Chosŏn dynasty, which had ruled since 1392,
came to an end.
In order to understand Japanese colonial rule in Korea, and the reactions of Koreans, it is useful to see the
ways in which Japanese officials sought to justify the takeover to Koreans, to themselves, and to the rest of
the world. The article excerpted here is a transcript of a talk given by an official of the Japanese foreign
ministry, Komatsu Midori, to resident foreign members (mostly British and American) of Seoul’s Royal
Asiatic Society shortly after annexation.
In developing the industry of an infantile nation, it is advisable to begin the work by
undertaking the improvement of the agricultural industry, and this has been diligently
carried on since Japan assumed the protectorate of the Korean Empire.”
“The wonderful new machinery, the command of new powers of steam and electricity,
have produced a new era in Japan, bringing about a remarkable change not only in
political and material conditions but also in the moral and intellectual spheres. In a
territory like Korea, an industrial development of the same kind would be followed by
the same results.”
Doc 4 Questions:
11. What is significant about Japan’s use of the word “infantile” to describe Korea?
12. What does this passage imply about the current state of Korean technology?
Document 5: Generalissimo Jiang Jieshi Assails Prince Konoe’s Statement
Introduction: In July 1937, Japanese forces, already in possession of Manchuria, launched a full-scale
invasion of the Republic of China (a move that they referred to as “The China Incident”). Jiang Jieshi’s forces
collapsed under the pressure of the Japanese invasion. By December 1937, Japanese forces had already
inflicted significant defeats on the Nationalist army, and by 1938, Japan controlled the eastern half of China.
Chiang’s Nationalist government and armies retreated to the less-developed western provinces, establishing
a wartime capital in the city of Chongqing in Sichuan province.
Japanese officials justified their actions in China as the only nation able to drive Western imperialism and
Russian Communism out of East Asia, restore China’s territorial sovereignty, and bring about a new era of
mutual peace, cooperation, and development among the countries of East Asia. Prince Fumimaro Konoe
made these arguments in his statements on December 22, 1938. The document below is Jiang Jieshi’s
response to Prince Konoe’s statements on December 28, 1938.
“Earlier, Konoye said: “The ultimate objective of the China Incident lies not merely in
achieving military triumph but in a rebirth of China and the creation of a new order in
East Asia. …”
Let all observe that what he meant by a reborn China was that independent China was
to perish and in its place an enslaved China created, which would have to accept by
Japan’s word from generation to generation. …
Japanese officials have maintained that the relationship of the “East Asian unity” should
be vertical with Japan at the summit (top), and not in any sense horizontal; the system of
relationship should be patriarchal, with Japan as patriarch and governor and Manchuria
and China as offspring. … What is it if it is not the total extinction of China? …”
Doc 6 Question:
13. According to Jiang Jieshi, how do the Japanese view themselves?
Deep Thinking Question:
Considering all these documents together, why did Japan decide to build an
empire in Asia?
Japan Builds an Empire DBQ Assignment
1. How big is China compared to Japan?
Name:
Per:
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2. How many minerals can be mined in Japan?
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How many minerals can be mined in China?
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Why would Japan want access to Chinese minerals?
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Why did Japan care about the state of international trade, especially that controlled by Britain, France,
Russia and the USA?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
6. How would the fact the Japan can’t trade with the USA lead them to invade Korea, China and other Asian
nations?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
7. How will invading Asia help make Japan self-sufficient?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
8. What do they say they will do for the people of Asia?
________________________________________________________________________________________
9. What agreement did Katsura and Taft make regarding Korea and the Philippines?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Based on the results of this conversation, what conclusion can Japan make about how the USA will react if
Japan invades other countries in Asia?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
11. What is significant about Japan’s use of the word “infantile” to describe Korea?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
12. What does this passage imply about the current state of Korean technology?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
13. According to Jiang Jieshi, how do the Japanese view themselves?
________________________________________________________________________________________
Big Question: Considering all these documents together, why did Japan decide to build an empire in Asia?
 3 Transition Words
 Concluding thought at the end
 Spelling, Complete Sentences
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