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A002930 – History of Japan

A002930 – History of Japan

A002930 – History of

熊本評論 [ hyōron], 20.09.1907. Illustration of the Japanese proverb, “One gen- eral succeeds and countless bones rot “, derived from the line「一将功成、万骨枯 of a poem by the Chin poet Cao Song (830–901). © Christian Uhl, UGent

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General Information

When? On Thursdays, 16:00 to 19:00. First class: 26. 09. 2019. Where? Campus boekentoren 05.03.110.063 = Auditorium 3 “Suzanne Lilar”, ground floor Blandinberg 2 (main building of the Faculty Lettren en wijsbegeerte. Map: http://admin.flwi.ugent.be/maps/?id=05.03.100.005& ) Books you need Conrad Totman. A . The Blackwell History of the World. Malden MA, Oxford UK, Berlin: Blackwell Publishing, 2000 (or newest edition). W.J. Boot. Keizers en Shōgun. Een Geschiedenis van Japan tot 1868. Amster- dam: Salomé – Amsterdam Univ. Press, 2001 (not needed for exch. students) There is a stock pile of the books (newest edition) for a reduced student price waiting for you at Standard Boekenhandel in the shop on the Kouter: http://www2.standaardboekhandel.be/nl/winkels/gent-kouter. Additional readings, lecture scripts, etc., on MINERVA UFORA is our electronic learning platform. Please make sure that you are in- scribed on UFORA for this course so that you have access to documents and get notifications. Additional readings, lecture scripts and announcements will be distributed and stored there for down-loading. Exam In order to pass this course you have to successfully participate in the final exam (date will be announced). The final exam will consist of 20 questions. Some of them are multiple choice questions, others require a short written answer (in English or Dutch, as you prefer). Instructions for your exam prepara- tion will be given in class and on UFORA. The most effortless road to the exam- ination is coming to class, taking notes, and doing the readings. How to contact me Contact me after class, or write me an e-mail: [email protected]. If you are lucky, you’ll find me in my office: Blandijnberg 2, 5th floor, room 150.019. More details (ECTS, etc.) on the official data sheet: https://studiegids.ugent.be/2017/NL/studiefiches/A002930.pdf

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Structure and Readings

Intro General information / Philosophical Orientation

00 What is “history” and why are we obsessed with it? Linear time, historical consciousness, and the status of the historical disciplines in the modern order of knowledge

01 Our textbooks in meta-historical perspective: Objectivity and the “fiction of the facts” / the problem of . TOTMAN: Intro 1 – 8; BOOT: Voorwoord, inleiding 9 – 13.

Part I From the Pre-Historical Times to the Reforms of the

02 From 250 BC to AD 400: The emergence of an archaic “state”. TOTMAN: 11–31; BOOT: 14–21.

03 From the 5th century to AD 701: The role of the emperor, the reforms, the Jinshin disturbance, the move to . TOTMAN: 34 – 86; BOOT: 22 – 28.

Part II The Establishment and the Decline of the Ritsuryō-System

04 From 701 to 967: The ritsuryō-style administration from the enactment of the Taihō codex to the enactment of the shiki and the institutionalisation of the rule by regents. TOTMAN: 87 – 112; BOOT 29 – 39.

05 From 967 to 1185: The decline of the dajōkan system, the increase of large-scale land ownership, the shōen and the rise of the bushi. TOTMAN: 113 – 138; BOOT: 39 – 47.

Part III From Shōen-Based Feudalism to Mura-Based Feudalism

06 From 1185 to 1333: The the shōen-based feudalism of the period; the definition of “feudalism”, comparison with feudalism in Europe. TOTMAN: 139 – 171; BOOT: 48 – 57.

07 From 1333 to 1598: The disintegration of shōen-based feudal- ism, the decentralized feudalism of the warring states period and the growth of cities and villages; the feudalism under Tyo- tomi Hideyoshi. TOTMAN: 172 – 215; BOOT: 58 – 80.

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Part IV The Consolidation, Decline and Collapse of the Rule

08 From 1600 to 1700: the consolidation of village-based feudal- ism, leader-retainer relationships under the Tokugawa, the rise of the merchants and the crisis of the Tokugawa. TOTMAN: 215 – 245; BOOT: 81 – 93.

09 From 1700 to 1868: The crisis of village-based feudalism, the arrival of Western imperialism, the collapse of the Tokugawa rule, and the imperial restoration of 1868. TOTMAN: 246 – 306; BOOT: 93 – 108.

Part V The Establishment and Decay of Constitutional

10 From 1868 to 1931: from the reforms and the making of the constitution the "Manchurian incident” and the rise of "Ja- -panese Fascism". TOTMAN: 307 – 359

11 From 1931 to 1945: From the Manchurian incident to the "Chi- na incident” to the “Greater East Asian War” and Japan’s capi- tulation. TOTMAN: 360 – 401; 417 – 438.

Part VI The Rise of Japan as a Constitutional Democracy

12 The post-war years from the allied occupation to the "econo- mic miracle" to the "bubble economy" of the late 1980s. TOTMAN: 439 – 502

Part VII The Crisis of the "Lost Decades" , and "" 13 The "two lost decades" from the burst of the "bubble" to the "triple disaster" of 2011 and the victory of Abe Shinzō in the general elections of 2012. No readings assigned

14 Japan's Splendor and Misery in the first five years of "Abenom- ics" (2013 - 2017). Addendum: Japan in the year 2018. No readings assigned

On the following pages you find an overview over the periodization of Japanese History (our course: the last column at the right), and a chronology, stretching from the year 108 BCE (archaic period) to 2017 ("Abenomics").

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Overview Periodization

Western Western style Commonly used Periods / Periodization AAO293O Calendar Periodization BOOT (– 1868) TOTMAN (– 1990) ISHII, Uhl

Top Predator

prehistoric

( p.)

①130.000 early forager society.

先史 senshi

–10000 BC

______Late ; Paleolithic ______

② 13.000 later forager society.

Jōmon (10.000 ~ 300 BC) proto-historic

Holocene; Meso-, Jōmon

300 BC

______

原史 genshi

______

______Part I Manager of a Human-centered

Yayoi (~300 BC ~AD 300) AD 300 Biological Community

From pre-

______

AD 300

③ dispersed agricultural society. historical times

______AD 400 (~ 300 – 710) 400 BC – AD 700: growth; to

______750 – 1250: stasis. the reforms of

______

______th

the 7 century

400 BC – AD 250: Yayoi

AD 500 0 250 – 710 Kofun tomb culture

______AD 500

______

______

AD 600

______

Asuka (593 – 710)

______

00

AD 700

______

______

710 – 794 Nara; classical aristo- Part II Nara (710 – 794) AD 800 cratic bureaucracy (ritsuryō) ancient period

______

The rise and

古代 794 – 1050 Heian, classical aristo- kodai

decline of the cratic bureaucracy (ritsuryō) Heian (794 – 1185) ______

AD 900

ritsuryō system ______

Fujiwara (894 – 1185)

AD 900

______

AD 1000

______Azuchi -

______0

AD 1100

______

______

AD 1200 ______Part III

______

1185 – 1250 early Kamakura

Medieval period shogunate (early medieval) The rise and Kamakura (1185 – 1333)

AD 1300 decline of 中世 chūsei ④ ______1250 intensive agric. society

shōen- based

______

1250 – 1700: growth;

feudalism

1700 – 1870: stasis. AD 1400 Muromachi (1333 –1568) ______

______

AD 1400

1250 – 1333 later Kamakura.

Nanboku (1337 – 1392) ______

1333 – 1600 Muromachi or

AD 1500

______Ashikaga; late medieval, feudal

Sengoku (1467 – 1568)

AD 1600

______

(Nanboku, Sengoku, Azuchi-M.)

______

AD 1600 Azuchi-Momoyama (–1600)

______

Part IV

1600 – 1867 or Tokugawa

The rise and early modern Edo/Tokugawa (1600–1868) shogunate; early modern;

AD 1700 decline of

______近世 centralized feudalism. kinsei

centralized,

______

village-based

AD 1800

______

feudalism

AD 1850

______

______

1868–1890 early Meiji; modern

Part V AD 1900

Meiji (1868 – 1912) ______

______modern period

Constitutional

______

近代 kindai Exploiter of the Dead

monarchy, rise

Taishō (1912 – 1926)

______

⑤ 1890s start industrial society and decline

AD 1945 Shōwa (1926 – 1989)

1890 – 1990: growth ______

1890–1945 imperial Japan

Parts VI & VII

contemporary

1945–pres. entrepreneurial Jap.

Constitutional

現代 gendai

AD 1989 democracy,

______+++ ______

rise (VI) and cri- (1989 – present) sis (VII)

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Chronology I & II – Archaic Period / Rise and Decline of the Ritsuryō Order

Based on: ISHII Ryōsuke, A History of Political Institutions in Japan. : Press, 1980: 133-38. With minor changes.

Archaic period, 250BC-701AD Ancient Period, 701-1185, the era of the ritsuryō state • Tribal social formations • Establishment, Consolidation of the ritsuryō order: Nara, early Heian, 701-967 • State based on and kabane • Decline of the ritsuryō order: later Heian, 967-1185

108 BCE – Emperor Wu Di of the Former Han 702 – Taihō ritsuryō put into effect. 939 – Tengyō no ran, failed rebellion of in the (first of many establishes four commanderies in 710 – the court moves to Nara, begining Nara . Beyond these, in Japan, lie “over one rebellions led by bushi). period. hundred countries” according to the Han 967 – Engi shiki put into effect (book 11 with 712 – compilation of the . History. regulations on the dajōkan). From this point 25 AD – establishment Later Han dynasty. 718 – Yōrō ritsuryō code enacted. onwards, the sesshō-kanpaku regency is a

57 – the Na country of sends an 720 – Compilation of the . permanent standing institution (= beginning embassy to the Later Han 722 – announcement of plan to reclaim one of the sekkan-sytem of government).

107 – the king “of the country of Mendo” in million chō of new land for cultivation. 984 – establishment of new shōen forbidden

Wa and others send an embassy to the later 723 – Law of “three generations and a lifetime”, ( seiri rei).

Han court. newly opened fields (konden) exempted from 988 – the gun magistrates and farmers of Owari

In the latter half of the 2nd century AD – reallotment for the life of the reclaimer, or for province accuse the provincial governor “great disorder” in Wa, clans warring with three generations after his death if new (kokushi), Fujiwara no Motonaga, of violating one another. Eventually all agree to submit was provided (early shōen). the law.

to the authority of Queen . 745 – konden eidai shizai hō, law, granting 1008 – the monogatari (Tale of Prince 220 – fall of the Later Han, three kingdoms reclaimed lands to reclaimer in perpetuity. Genji) basically completed by Murasaki

of Wei, Wu, and Shu. Shikibu. 757 – Yōrō ritsuryō put into effect. 247 – Himiko wars with the country of Kuna. 1028 – Rebellion of Taira no Tadatsune in the 759 – first imperial poetry anthology, the Manyō- Himiko dies, is succeeded by 13 year old girl of Kantō area. Defeated 1031 by Minamoto no shū, published. her clan, Toyo. Yorinobu, beginning of consolidation of 765 – land reclamation prohibited. Minamoto power in the Kantō area.

265 – kingdom of Wei destroyed by the Qin, 772 – private land reclamation permitted again, continental support for Himiko ends. 1040 – establishment of new shōen forbidden without restrictions. (Chōkyū seiri rei).

318 – alleged year of ’s death. 784 – beginning of construction of new capital at 1068 – enthronement of emperor Go-sanjō, be- 391 – Wa armies battle with Paekche and Nagaoka, abortive. ginning of the end of Fujiwara hegemony. in Korea. 794 – court moves to the new Heian capital, be- 421 – first of “five kings of Wa” sends embassy 1069 – establishment of new shōen forbidden ginning of the . (Enkyū seiri rei); shōen certificate recording to the Chinese . 798 – gun magistrates to be selected from those office (kiroku shōen kenkitsu jo) established. 538 – Introduced to Japan with reputation for skill and diligence rather 1072 – emperor Go-sanjō abdicates, but carries 562 – Wa forces destroyed in Korea. than simply on the basis of inheritance.

on direct imperial rule in retirement. Fujiwara 572 – Soga no Umako appointed as Ōomi. 810 - Kusuko incident propels to still figure as sesshō or kanpaku, but de

592 – enthroned. throne (int. Fujiwara feud, Nakanari executed) facto power is with the retired emperor.

593 – Prince Shōtoku is made Crown Prince, 820 – the Kōnin kyakushiki is enacted (supple- 1086 – emperor Shirakawa abdicates in favor of conducts affairs of the state jointly with Soga mentary governmental regulations, kyaku on Horikawa, but carries on from retirement no Umako. Begin of . penal procedures, shiki on administrative and (beginning of insei, rule by retired emperors).

ceremonial procedures. 603 – twelve-tier system of court ranks estab- 1156 – Hōgen no ran (rebellion of the Hōgen lished. 824 – by this year the whole country consists of era), a clash of former and 66 provinces and “two islands”. For many emperor Go-shirakawa over the succession of 604 – seventeen-articles constitution centuries no further changes were made to the throne, both backed by rivaling Fujiwara, announced. these administrative boundaries. and by either the Taira, or the . 623 – scholars return from Tang (610-907) 857 – becomes Daijōdai- Go-shirakawa victorious, holds power as retir- and praise the excellence of Tang -jin. Before him, Fujiwara members functioned ed emperor during the reign of 5 successive administration and law. as ministers to the left and right, etc. emperors. Also, the rebellion paved the way 645 – the Soga uji gets destroyed; enthrone- for the bushi grasp of power. 858 – Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes sesshō for ment of emperor Kōtoku, proclamation of the child-emperor Seiwa, his grandson. 1159 – no ran (rebellion of the Heiji era), the Taika era; oath of loyalty under the great clash between the Taira and Minamoto clans, 869 – the Jōgan kyakushiki put into effect (the padanus tree. victorious; the rebellion is a kyakushiki of the Jōgan era, the second 646 – edict. precursor of the Genpei wars.

kyakushiki compilation). 649 – the “eight ministries and one hundred 1167 – Taira no Kiyomori made Daijōdaijin. 880 – Daijōdaijin is made official posts” of government are established 1180 – raises a military regent for an emperor who has come of age. 668 – emperor Tenchi formally enthroned, force, establishes headquarters at Kamakura. Prince Ōama made “brother imperial”. 887 – Fujiwara no Mototsune acquires the title Beginning of the Genpei gassen (Genpei wars) kampaku (the first time that this title is used). 670 – first nationwide census. between the Taira (Heike) clan and the 902 – Engi shōen seiri rei (seiri rei of the Engi era) Minamoto (Genji) clan. 671 – Tenchi offers succession to Ōama, but first of a series of orders to tackle the shōen Ōama retires to Yoshino. 1185 – TheTaira (Heike) forces are eventually problem: commendations of land to powerful destroyed in the battle of Dan no ura (Dan no 672 – the Jinshin uprising of Prince Ōama, who families forbidden, and powerful families ura no tatakai). Hōjō Tokimasa goes to the subsequently becomes . prohibited from occupying vacant lands. capital with a petition to grant Minamoto no

681 – edict announcing the compilation of 927 – Engi shiki (the shiki of the Engi era) en- Yoritomo the right to appoint jitō (military ritsurō laws. acted (compiled between 905 and 927, the constables) and (land stewards), and

684 – Tenmu’s eight kabane proclaimed. shiki part of the Engi kyakushiki). The Engi retired emperor Go-shirakawa appoints Yoritomo as sōjitō (general military constable) 694 – court moves to new Fujiwara capital. shiki consists of 50 books, the first 10 giving details for the ceremonial procedures and sōshugo (general land steward). Esta- 701 – Taihō ritsuryō code enacted (Taihō is the under the auspices of the jingikan. The Engi blishment of the Kamakura bakufu, beginning regnal name of emperor Monmu). shiki is a sacred text of the Shintō religion. of the .

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III & IV – From the Establishment of Shōen-Based to the End of Mura-based Feudalism

Based on: ISHII Ryōsuke, A History of Political Institutions in Japan. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press, 1980: 138-44. With minor changes.

The era of feudalism (hōkensei), including the “medieval” (chūsei) and the “early modern” (kinsei) periods • Shōen-based feudalism: consolidation Kamakura, 1185–1333; decay Muromachi 1333 until 1467 • Decentralized feudalism Muromachi (Sengoku), from 1467–1568 • Han-and-village based feudalism: consolidation Azuchi-Momoyama and early Edo, 1568–1742; decline later Edo, 1742– 1868

1187 – a recording office for shōen is estab- 1477 – destroyed, Ōnin war ends, disorder 1665 – tobacco growing on registered land for- lished. continues, country completely decentralized. bidden; rulings for temples and shrines. 1192 – Yoritomo is appointed Sei-i-tai shōgun. 1526 – Imagawa Uchijika enacts the moku- 1673 – farmers of land below a minimum 1199 – Yoritomo dies. roku as the law of his domain. putative yield prohibited from dividing their 1221 – Jōkyū no ran (Jōkyū rebellion), of the re- 1536 – Date Tanemune enacts the Jinkaishū as arable land. tired emperor Go-toba against the Kamakura the law of his domain. 1697 – Jibun shioki rei enacted, allowing daimyo bakufu, led by regents of the Hōjō clan. Ba- 1543 – the Portuguese arrive at Japan. to exercise autonomous criminal justice in kufu victorious, destroys enemies at court. 1547 – enacts the Shingen kahō their fiefs. 1223 – Goseibai shikimoku enacted (legal code (Shingen house laws) as the law of his domain. 1713 – prohibitions against land division (1673) of the Kamakura bakufu, marks the feudali- 1568 – occupies Kyoto (=start amended so as to impose a minimum of land zation of the legal system; promulgated to Azuchi-Momoyama period). to be separated.

deal with increasing land disputes). 1573 – end of the Muromachi bakufu, title of 1720 – tattooing instituted as punishment; ban lifted on the importation of foreign books in 1274 – Bunei war, first Mongol invasion with shōgun vacant until 1603. Chinese translations. Chinese and Korean enforcement, repulsed. 1577 – Oda Nobunaga enacts rules for the town 1281 – Koan war, second Mongol invasion, below his main castle at Azuchi. 1722 – intensification of Tokugawa Yoshimune’s ditto, Mogol forces eventually destroyed by 1582 – Nobunaga assassinated. Toyotomi Hide- Kyōhō reforms (1716–‘36): organization of Edo neighborhood leagues; 1% rice assess- a taifun (=”winds of the gods”). yoshi conducts land survey in Yamashiro ment (agemai) on putative daimyō incomes; 1294 – decree of the bakufu, discontinuing all province (model for later nationwide survey). relaxation of sankin kōtai policy; Edo neigh- consideration for further rewards or com- 1585 – made kanpaku. borhood taxes to be levied in silver instead of pensation stemming from the Mongol inva- 1587 – Hideyoshi conquers Kyūshū; issues prohi- goods and services; etc. sions. bition against Christianity. 1736 – bakufu limits recoverable interest to 15% 1297 – the bakufu issues a debt remission 1588 – Hideyoshi issues order, non- per annum. order (financial difficulties and growing have to surrender their swords. 1737 – rule that land transferred as security for a dependency of the bushi on money lenders). 1590 – Hideyoshi defeats the Hōjō at Odawara, loan can be redeemed only within 10 years 1317 – Bumpō wadan, order of the bakufu completing the pacification of the country; after expiration of mortgage agreement. stating that imperial succession should orders national census; be- 1742 – Kujikata osadamegaki (book of rules for alternate between the rival imperial lines. comes the lord of Kantō region, based in Edo. public officials) enacted 1326 – emperor Go-daigo names his son (junior 1591 – Hideyoshi prohibits samurai from becom- 1783 – ’87: one million die in the famine. line) as heir apparent, in violation of the ing merchants or farmers. 1789 – kien rei, order cancelling all debts to rice bakufu order of 1317. 1597 – 26 Christians are executed. brokers incurred by bakufu house and banner- 1331 – beginning of open revolt of Go-daigo 1598 – Japanese invasions of Korea (started ’93) men within the preceding 6 years. against the bakufu. end with Japan’s retreat. Hideyoshi dies, op- 1332 – Go-daigo refuses to abdicate, is exiled. position against Ieyasu raises. 1790 – regent begins to issue drastic policies to strengthen the bakufu Kōmyō of the senior line is enthroned. All 1600 – , Ieyasu victorious. imperial land confiscated by the bakufu. ( reforms). Go-daigo’s son calls warrior clans to 1603 – Ieyasu becomes Sei-i-tai shōgun (= start 1798 – beginning of colonization of . overthrow the Hōjō. ). 1825 – order that foreign ships be repulsed. 1611 – written oaths of allegiance required of 1333 – send by the bakufu to 1841 – begin of Tempō reforms to regain control western daimyo. defeat Go-daigo and his supporters, deserts over daimyo affairs and fix fiscal problems; 1612 – written oaths of allegiance required of to Go-daigo’s side. Kamakura bakufu des- wholesalers’ associations (tonya kabunaka- eastern daimyō. troyed. ma) disbanded; new coinage; ban of “Dutch 1615 – battle of Tennōji-, destruction of 1334 – beginning of the restoration learning”, etc. opposing Toyotomi house; laws for warriors (attempt at restoring direct imperial rule by 1842 – order to repulse foreign ships relaxed. (Buke sho-hatto) and laws for the palace and Go-daigo). 1844 – letter of the Dutch king explains that court nobility (Kinchū narabini sho-hatto) 1335 – Go-daigo refuses to give Ashikaga western might and trade makes opening of enacted; “One domain, one castle order” Takauchi the shōgun title. Takauchi turns Japan inevitable, advice politely rejected. (ikkoku ichijō rei) enacted, limiting the daimyō against Go-daigo, 1853 – Perry’s ships arrive at Uraga; injunction to one castle. 1337 – Go-daigo flees to Yoshino, establishes against building large ships withdrawn. 1616 – ban on Christianity reaffirmed; foreign Southern court. Ex-emperor Kōmyō of the 1854 – “treaty of friendship” with the USA; later trade (except Chinese) restricted to senior line installed in Kyoto as emperor of this year similar treaty with Great Britain. and Hirado ( rei). the (start Nanboku era). 1632 – rules for non-daimyō (Shoshi 1858 – commercial treaty with the USA (“free 1338 – Ashikaga Takauchi made Sei-i-tai shō- hatto) of the Tokugawa enacted. trade” at 6 ports, permanent foreign residen- gun, establishes headquarter at Kyoto, Mu- 1634 – duties for senior councillors (rōjū) and ju- cy, etc.; opposed by many daimyo). romachi district (start ). nior councillors (wakadoshiyori) defined. 1864 – first expedition against Chōshū. 1352 – Ashikaga Takauji orders the expropria- 1635 – calls by foreign ships limited to Nagasaki. 1865 – treaties confirmed by imperial edict. tion of 50% of shōen revenues (hanzei hō) in 1866 – 2nd expedition against Chōshū; agree- system of “alternate residence” (sankin kōtai) 8 provinces requiring military action. ment on tariffs with USA, GB, France, NL. instituted. 1368 – hanzei hō put into effect nationwide. 1637 – (suppressed ’38) 1867 – Hyōgō () opened for foreign com- 1392 – Northern and Southern court reconciled 1639 – Portuguese ships forbidden to land in Ja- merce; secret court edict authorizing over- after 50 years of civil war. pan; travel abroad restricted, building of larger throw of bakufu; shōgun resigns; court pro- 1441 – the bakufu orders a debt remission ships forbidden (completion of sakoku policy). claims resumption of sovereign powers (ōsei (tokusei rei). 1643 – restriction of sale of land by . fukkō, restoration of imperial rule) 1454 – beginning of Kyōtoku no ran (series of 1650 – rebellion by ronin (masterless 1868 – battles of Toba and Fushimi, bakufu des- conflicts over the control over Kantō region. samurai). troyed; 5-Article-Charter-Oath, Seitaisho is- 1457 – built (‘seed’ modern Tokyo). 1651 – adoption of successor in expectation of sued; Edo renamed Tokyo; era name changed 1467 – outbreak of the Ōnin rebellion (=start death permitted again to tackle ronin problem to Meiji with the intention to make era names ). in the future correspond to imperial reigns.

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V – Rise and Deline of Japan as a

Based on: ISHII Ryōsuke, ibid., 145-53 (with changes), other sources in print and in the public domain

The modern era, 1868 to the present, first part: Japan as a constitutional monarchy • establishment, consolidation: 1868–1931 • decay: 1932–1945

1869 – the daimyō of Satsuma, Chōshū, Hizen 1882 – Itō Hirobumi to Europe for study of con- 1922 – Communist Party of Japan founded and Tosa announce surrender of control over stitutional law (bias for Germany, returns in secretly (Nihon kyōsantō).. land and people in their domains to the im- 1883); regulations enacted; 1923 – Great Kantō Earthquake kills over perial government; emperor moves to To- becomes state religion; etc. 100.000 people, catastrophic destructions. kyo; daimyō return their fiefs to emperor 1884 – Ordinance concerning Peers enacted, 5 1925 – (illegal to pro- Meiji, many becoming “governors” of their nobility ranks; Chichibu incident (large scale mote abolition of private property or changes previous domains; civil service code enacted. revolt, violently suppressed). in the national polity); universal Male 1870 – deliberative assembly reorganized as 1885 – modern dajōkan system replaced by a Suffrage Law enacted (age: 25). shūgi’in (lower house); commoners permit- modern cabinet system; Itō Hirobumi Prime 1926 – Taishō tennō, dies, succeeded by Hirohi- ted to have surnames, forbidden to carry Minister; rising tensions between Japan and to as emperor Shōwa. swords; new criminal law promulgated; etc. China over Korea. 1927 – Shōwa financial crisis; interventionist 1871 – domains of shrines and temples confis- 1886 – regulations and laws concerning organiza policy towards China increases. cated; domain system replaced by a system tion of ministries, courts, registration of prop- 1928 – crackdown on the Communist Party of state prefectures; household registration erty interests; order for establishment of Im- (incarceration, torture, etc.); clashes between law promulgated; ministries of justice, and of perial University in Tokyo as central govern- Guangdong army and Chinese nationalists. education established; eta and hinin class ment academy; etc. 1929 – US stock market crashes, Great Depres- designations abolished; mission to USA, Eu- 1887 – rising anti-foreign sentiment of unequal sion begins, shakes Japan’s economy. , headed by Iwakura Tomomi; etc. treaties; Peace Preservation Law restricts pub- 1931 – staged attack on the Japanese South 1872 – education act issued (state controlled, lic gathering, permits banishment of opposi- Manchurian Railway serves as pretext for western style education with the objective tion leaders from Tokyo; Income Tax Law takeover of Mukden and South Manchuria, to achieve universal literacy); Gregorian ca- enacted. protest of the ignored. lendar introduced; order liberating 1889 – Constitution promulgated, related laws 1932 – Japan bombs Shanghai to “protect” Japa- and prostitutes; Japan asserts control over and regulations promulgated or enacted. nese citizens. The Finance Minister assassina- the Ryūkyū islands; first Protestant church 1890 – The first Diet is elected and convened; ted; the banker Dan Takuma too; Guangdong (); first railway (Tokyo-Yokohama). Imperial on Education, emphasizing army establishes the puppet state Manchu- 1873 – land tax reform (de facto expropriation Confucian values; numerous laws and regula- kuo. PM assassinated. of the daimyō); universal conscription order tion on organization of prefectures, political 1933 – Japan announces withdrawal from the promulgated (beginning of modern army); parties, civil and criminal procedure promul- League of Nations. Japanese permitted to marry foreigners; gated or enacted. 1934 – Japan announces repudiation of the wives allowed to sue husbands for divorce; 1894 – in Korea rebellion against the Korean Washington Treaties. Saigo Takamori, , and others monarchy, quelled by Japanese as as 1936 - occurs (attempted fail to get approval for the plan to invade Chinese troops; the situation escalates into militarist coup d’état by 1st army division); Korea; etc. the First Sino-Japanese war. mutual defense pact with Germany. 1874 – Itagaki et. al. present petition for the 1895 – Treaty of Shimonoseki ends the war with 1937 – Italy included in mutual defense pact; establishment of a national assembly; Itagaki China and seals victory. Korea now “in- skirmish near (incident at the Marco returns to Tosa, founds the Jiyū minken undo dependant”; as part of reparations, China Polo Bridge) marks the beginning of what will (Freedom and Peoples’ Rights Movement); cedes the Pescadores, the Liaodong peninsula, become the second Sino-Japanese War. In government suppresses uprising in Saga; etc. and Formosa (). December Massacre of , Japanese 1875 – supreme court founded; civil litigation 1900 – Japan supports an international force to troops commit mass murder of civilians hearings opened to the public; commoners quell the in China; increasing and systematic rape, loot the city. required to assume surnames; libel laws and tension between Japan and Russia.. 1938 – National General Mobilization Act enact- newspaper regulations enacted (restrictive); 1902 – Anglo-Japanese alliance (Japan regarded ed; beginning of “Anti-Japanese Resistance Japan exchanges with Russia the Sakhalin for as ally of GB against its biggest rival, Russia). War” of the Chinese communist forces. the ; etc. 1904 – Japan invades Korea, declares war on 1939 – Hitler attacks Poland; Japan promulgates 1876 – Sword Ban Order issued (sword-wearing Russia over control of Korea and the Liaodong labor conscription, and price control orders. only by officials at state ceremonies); trans- peninsula. 1940 – all political parties dissolved; Imperial formation of samurai stipends into govern- 1905 – , Japan defeats the Rule Assistance Organization established; ment bonds; treaty of Kanghwa forced on Russian navy. Treaty of Portsmouth ends war; Japanese puppet regime in China under Wang Korea; rebellion in Ibaraki prefecture against Korea turned into Japanese protectorate. Jingwei; military alliance with Axis powers. land tax reform, Akizuki and Hagi rebellions. 1909 – An Chungun assassinates Itō Horobumi in 1941 – Germany invades the ; Japan 1877 – Seinan no eki, or : Manchuria for his role in Japanese Korea poli- invades French Indochina; Konoe Fumimarō Saigo Takamori leads 80.000 ex-samurai tics. replaced by general Tōjō Hideki as PM; in insurgence against the Meiji government, 1910 – full annexation of Korea, establishment of December attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval suppressed after 9 month; land tax reduced. Japanese military rule over Korea. Force on Hawaii (beginning of ). 1878 – civil code completed; law on organiza- 1912 – Meiji tennō dies, Taishō tennō enthroned. 1942 – enactment of Control of Foodstuffs Law;

tion of districts, wards, cities and villages; 1914 – WWI breaks out, Japan enters on the 1943 – power of prime minister strengthened; regulations on the transfer of factories to basis of Anglo-Japanese alliance, seizes Ger- US-British concerted counter offensive begins. private control; etc. man concession Tsintao (Qingdao) in China. 1944 – large scale allied air raids over Tokyo. 1879 – Okinawa incorporated as prefecture; 1915 – Japan presents a list of 21 demands to 1945 – Germany surrenders to the allies; Okina- General Staff Office established; Education China, fuels anti-Japanese resentment. wa falls to the allies; Japan’s attempts at Order enacted; etc. 1918 – war-fuelled has caused negotiating surrender ignored; Potsdam de- 1880 – New Testament translated; restrictive inflation, nationwide riots break out in protest claration calls for unconditional surrender; SU regulations for public gatherings issued; etc. against high rice prices. declares war against Japan, takes Kuril islands; 1881 – government announces plan of the es- 1919 – start of Korean independence movement. on Aug. 06 atom bomb on , 09. on tablishment of National Assembly in 1890; 1920 – depression, dramatic fall of prices. Nagasaki; Japan declares surrender in tele- Liberal Party (Jiyūtō, headed by Itakaki), and 1921 – Socialist league founded and disbanded gram to the allies. In a radio broadcast on Constitutional Progressive Party (Rikken kai- by the government; Four Power Pacific Treaty Aug. 15, emperor announces his shin tō, by Ōkubo Toshimichi) founded; signed, limits naval capacities. decision to end the war.

8

VI – Japan's Rise as a Liberal Democracy From the Allied Occupation to the Bubble Economy

Based on various sources in print and in the public domain

The modern era, 1868 to the present, second part: Japan as a constitutional democracy • VI = establishment, consolidation and "economic miracle", "bubble economy": 1945–1989 (this page) • VII = crisis: "burst of the bubble" and "lost decades", "triple disaster" and "Abenomics": 1990–2018 (next pages)

1945 – Aug. 16 and later that year: Higashikuni splits into a Left and a Right Party (one oppo- ; the Japanese Red Army Faction high- Naruhiko Prime Minister (until Oct. 06); first sing both treaties, the other only the Securi- jacks Japan Airlines flight 351 and flies it to legal congress of Communist Party; Japan ty Treaty). North Korea; the writer and right wing activist surrenders formally, Macarthur arrives in 1952 – Official end of US ; Mishima Yukio calls for a military coup and Tokyo; Shigemitsu Mamoru PM; prewar fe- Prevention of Subversive Activities Law passes commits samurai-style ritual suicide. minist leaders demand woman suffrage; Diet. 1971 – Nixon announces state visit to China (first Macarthur orders to end restriction on civil, 1953 – Ceasefire agreement signed in P'anmun- Nixon shock); Nixon announces a 10% tax on political and religious liberties; jon, Korea (July 28). all imports to the US, dollar no longer con- disestablished; Japan Socialist Party, Japan 1954 – completes rebuilding of the vertible into gold (second Nixon shock); Liberal Party, Japan Progressive Party, Japan Mitsubishi ; PM Yoshida Shigeru Ministry of the Environment established. Cooperative Party formed. resigns after losing vote of confidence, Hato- 1972 – Okinawa returned to Japan; Tanaka 1946 – Supreme Commander of Allied Pow- yama Ichirō PM. Kakuei (LDP) PM; Law for Equal Employment ers (SCAP) rejects drafts of a new constitu- 1955 – Left and Right Socialist Parties reunite Opportunity of Men and Women passes diet; tion and produces an own one, which is pre- and form the Japan Socialist Party (Nihon recognition of PRCh, end of recognition of sented to the public and later promulgated shakaitō), and that triggers the conservative Taiwan (China-Japan Joint Statement); Winter as an act of the Japanese government; em- Liberal and Democratic parties to merge and Olympic Games held at Sapporo. peror Hirohito exempted as war criminal; form the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP, Jiyū 1973 – 4-fold increase of the price of oil for over first diet elections with women participation, minshūtō, first time in post-war that Japan has four month (global oil crisis); free exchange candidates of 363 political parties; In May a two-party system; all subsequent PMs LDP). rate for the Yen introduced; RAF and PFLP beginning of the Tokyo War Crimes Trial; Yo- 1956 – bussan completes the process of (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) shida Shigeru PM; a socialist (Sōdōmei) and a reassembling itself as a zaibatsu; Hatoyama highjack a Japan Airlines plane. rivaling communist labor federation (San- resigns, Ishibashi Tanzan PM; Japan becomes 1974 – bomb attack on Mitsubishi heavy indus- betsu) are founded; Labor Relations Adjust- a member of the . try headquarter; Japn. RAF attacks French em- ment Law passes diet, Revised Land Reform 1957 – Ishibashi resigns because of health issues, bassy in Den Hague, takes hostages; Tanaka enacted. and class A war criminal convict (didn't get resigns over bribery allegations, Miki Takeo 1947 – Yoshida cabinet resigns over strike cam- trialed) Kishi Nobusuke becomes PM. PM; ex-PM Sato accepts Nobel peace prize. paign of gov. workers; USA announce Tru- 1958 – National Health Care Act passes diet; 1975 – Japn. RAF takes hostages at the Swedish man doctrine; diet passes Fundamental Law peace treaty with Indonesia. embassy in Kuala Lumpur; Japan joins the first of Education (liberalization of curriculum, co- 1959 – more than 1.000.000 citizens and stu- G6-summit. education); general elections held, Katayama dents begin protests against the revision of 1976 – International Lockheed corruption scan- Tetsu (Socialist Party) PM; new constitution the US-Japan Security treaty, beginning of the dal, ex-PM Tanaka arrested; Japan joins first takes effect; Law for the Elimination of Ex- treaty revision crisis (Anpo tōsō). G7 summit; Soviet pilot flees with his MIG-27 cessive Concentration of Economic Power 1960 – US-Japan Security Treaty of '51 replaced jet to Japan; Miki replaced as PM by Fukuda passes diet (foundation for dissolution of the by a revised Treaty (goes into effect in June), Takeo (for not protecting Tanaka). zaibatsu). nationwide anti-treaty movement, violent 1978 – dramatic overnight increase of oil price 1948 – Decentralization Review Board (DRB) es- student protests, president Eisenhower can- because of Iranian revolution (second oil tablished to counteract the Holding Compa- cels visit to Japan; leader of the Socialist Party, shock); Narita airport opens (spectacular anti- ny Liquidation Commission (HCLC, beginning Asanuma Inejirō, assassinated by a militant airport protests continue); Japan-China Treaty of the end of zaibatsu dissolution plans); Ka- right-wing activist during a TV debate; begin- of Amity signed; Ohira Masayoshi PM. tayama-cabinet falls over budget issues, ning of the Vietnam War (until 1975); Ikeda 1979 – Ohira dies, Ashida Hitoshi (Socialist Party) PM; Ashida Hayato becomes PM and announces his plan 1980 – Suzuki Zenkō PM. falls over Shōwa Denkō corruption scandal; to double income in the decade to come; color 1982 – the first CD ever sold is sold in Japan; War Crimes Tribunal announces verdict; US TV broadcast begins. Nakasone Yasuhiro PM. National Security Council issues Nine-Point 1964 – Japan joins the Organization for Economic 1984 – Telephone service privatized. Program (principles of economic stabiliza- Cooperation and Development (OECD); the 1985 – Japan Tobacco and Salt privatized (be- tion, to be imposed on Japan). International Monetary Fund (IMF) recognizes comes JT); Japan Airlines flight JA8119 crash- 1949 – the Communist Party increases in ge- Japan as one of the 8 leading economic pow- es on its way from Tokyo to Osaka, 520 pas- neral elections its number of seats from 4 to ers; Niigata pollution incident occurs (one of sengers and crew die; G5-summit agrees on 35; banker Joseph Dodge appointed by Wa- a number of dramatic environmental incidents policy of revaluation of the Yen, exchange shington to implement the Nine-Point pro- in the later 60s); Tōkaidō Bullet train (Shin- rate to drop from ¥ 240 to ¥ 120 per dollar gram in Japan; Ministry of Commerce and kansen) starts service; Summer Olympic in the course of one year (Plaza Agreement). and Board of Trade merged to form Games held at Tokyo; the lay Bud- 1986 – private car penetration rate over 70%; the Ministry of International Trade and In- dhist organization (Sōka Gakkai) forms the onset of what will be called a "bubble econo- dustry (MITI). Clean Government Party (Kōmeitō); Ikeda re- my"; RAF member fires a rocket at the US- 1950 – SCAP alarmed by rise of Communism, signs, Sato Eisaku becomes PM. embassy in Jakarta; Chernobyl melt-down. purges leaders of the Communist Party and 1968 – Kawabata Yasunari is awarded the Nobel 1987 – Takeshita Noboru PM; Japan Rail privat- bans the publication of the party organ, Aka- Prize in Literature; Japan replaces Germany as ized; US-SU Treaty on the Elimination of inter- hata (Red Flag); beginning of (on the second largest economy in the world; the mediate and short range nuclear missiles. June 25). Organization of the Arab Petroleum Exporting 1989 – Shōwa tennō (Hirohito) dies on Jan. 7, 1951 – Macarthur dismissed by Truman, Gen. Countries (OAPEC) is founded; Nippon Tele- enthronement of , beginning of Heisei Ridgeway appointed as SCAP; supreme court graph commences pager service; massive vio- period; Takeshita resigns over Recruit corrup- founded; end of political purges, prewar con- lent student protest against tuition fees, the tion scandal, Uno Sōsuke PM; 3% consump- servatives return on political stage, form De- Vietnam War, etc. tion tax instituted, public unrest; Uno resigns, mocratic Party (Hatoyama president); Inter- 1969 – Students occupy the Yasuda lecture hall Kaifu Toshiki PM; Tiananmen incident, Berlin national Peace Treaty signed by 48 nations in (Univ. Tokyo), spectacular clashes between wall falls, US and SU announce end of Cold San Francisco, official end of WWII for Japan; students and the riot police; Apollo 11 lands War; Nikkei stock index hits all-time high at US-Japan Security Treaty (reaction on foun- on moon; Japan Space Agency (JAXA) founded. 38,957.44 intra-day (December 29); choice dation of Peoples Republic of China in 1949, 1970 – Security Treaty prolonged; first Japanese properties in Tokyo's Ginza district fetch over beginning of the ); Socialist Party satellite launched; World Exhibition (EXPO) at US $ 1.5 million per square meter.

9

VII.1 – The "Lost Decades" From the Burst of the Bubble to the "Triple Disaster"

Based on various sources in print and in the public domain

1990 – the Ministry of Finance revises the to China; the Asian Financial Crisis occurs, rai- novo Corp. takes over the PC segment of IBM. Money-Lending Business Control and Regula- ses fears of a meltdown of the global financial 2005 – Internet penetration rate 70% (individual tion Law, introducing restrictions on total system due to financial contagion; several citizens); World EXPO opens in Aichi; postal lending limits (policy continues for 1 year Japanese companies go bankrupt (Yaohan, service restructured and privatized. and 4 month, seen as one of the pricks that Nissan Mutual Life, Yamaichi Securities, etc.). 2006 – Yamanaka Shinya and his team succeed in caused the "bubble" to burst); Iraq invades 1998 – ISDN-service, iMac introduced; Olym- creating induced pluripotent stem cells (awar- Kuweit; "reunification" of Germany. pic Winter Games held at Nagano; Financial ded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2012); 1991 – the "bubble" begins to collapse, onset Services Agency established; Hashimoto re- Nikkei drops suddenly in reaction to a raid of what will be called the "", and signs, Obuchi Keizō PM (LDP); Act on Special of the headquarters of Lifedoor because of later on the "lost decades"; North and South Measures Concerning Claim Management and accounting fraud (Lifedoor shock); Abe Korea join the UN; Gulf war (US and Allies Collection Businesses released, Non Profit Or- Shinzō (LDP) replaces Koizumi as PM. against Iraq); Miyazawa Ki'ichi PM; the SU ganazations Act issued; Google founded (US). 2007 – LDP loses Upper House election, Abe re- collapses, former SU countries form the 1999 – 50 million people use mobile phones (40% signs, Fukuda Yasuo (LDP) elected as PM by Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). penetration rate), law against phoning while the Lower House (Upper House controlled by 1992 – Sony introduces the Mini Disk; laws for driving released; ADSL broadband service in- the DPJ); In the US the "sub-prime Bubble" the cooperation with UN Peace Keeping troduced; IT-bubble emerges ("dot-com-bub- bursts, causes the fall of Lehman Brothers Operations (PKO, legal foundation to deploy ble", due to massive into IT-com- Holdings (Lehman shock), and develops into military abroad in spite of article 9 of the panies); Freedom of Information Act, Self-De- the Global Financial Crisis; the Nikkei plunges constitution); and for the restriction of car fense Forces Law, Act on National Flag and to an average stock price of ¥ 6994. emissions pass diet; Sagawa kyūbin scandal Anthem (hinomaru and formally 2008 – sale of the iPhone begins in Japan (begin- occurs (illegal donations to the LDP and a established as Japan's flag and anthem), wire- ning of the smart phone era); G8-summit in related organization). tapping law pass diet; accident at a nuclear fa- Hokkaido; Fukuda resigns, Asō Tarō (LDP) PM. 1993 – second generation of wireless telecom cility in Tokaimura exposes 70 workers to 2009 – the first Android smart phone is sold in introduced (2G); dial-up access introduced, radiation, kills 2; Macao returned to China. Japan; tax reduction for low emission cars in- first internet service providers (ISP); rice 2000 – Mori Yoshirō PM (LDP); G8+EU summit troduced; Barak Obama President of the US; shortage due to cold summer (emergency held on Okinawa. citizen judge system introduced; Aso dissolves imports disturb global rice markets, follow 2001 – Third generation of wireless mobile tele- the diet, overwhelming victory of the Demo- ing critique forces Japan to review its pro- com (3G) introduced; central government re- cratic Party (DPJ) in subsequent Lower House tectionist rice polices); Hosokawa Morihiro structured (reduction of ministries from 22 to elections, Hatoyama Yukio PM. PM, first non-JDP PM since 1955 (Japan New 12); Mori resigns, Koizumi Junichiro PM (LDP); 2010 – wireless telecom generation 3.9 (LTE) in- Party, founded in 1992, neoliberal, conserva- Koizumi's visit of the (where troduced; Japan ends its support of the war in tive); first official recognition of and apology class A war criminals are enshrined), and his Afghanistan, but PM backs down from his pro- for systemic rape of comfort women during approval of the publication of a controversial mise to close the US bases on Okinawa; the WWII; Basic Environment Law passes diet; history textbook cause fallout in Japan's rela- Social Democratic Party leaves his coalition, Treaty of Maastricht (European Union foun- tions with the and China; the global IT- Hatoyama resigns, Kan Naoto (DPJ) PM; DPJ ded). bubble collapses, Nikkei stock index hits 16 defeated in Upper House elections; China 1994 – Haneda Tsutomu PM (New Life Party, and 17 years lows, the Bank of Japan adopts overtakes Japan as second largest economy. neo-conservative, neoliberal derivative from policies; the 9.11 terror 2011 – mobile phone penetration rate 100% the LDP, disappeared in 1994), resigned after attacks in the USA enforce the calamities; un- (128 million subscribers), 40,7% of all house- 64 days; Murayama Tomi'ichi PM (Social employment rates have reached a historical holds with FTTH standard contracts; on March Democratic Party); members of the AUM high (4,7% of women, 5,2% of men according 11 the earthquake (M9) causes a de- sect injure 600 people in a sarin gas attack in to Japanese counting); big companies an- vastating tsunami and the melt down of all the city of Matsumoto; Oe Kenzaburō wins nounce further lay-offs of tens of thousands of four reactor units of the TEPCO the Nobel Prize in Literature. employees; Japan officially in yet another re- dai'ichi nuclear power plant, resulting in the 1995 – use of PCs becomes widespread, cession, a "lost decade" has completed itself; contamination of vast regions of Japan ("triple number of people using internet and e-mail US "War against Terror" begins in Afghanistan. disaster", more than 15.000 die immediately, explodes; Office Word, Excel, etc. become 2002 – 70% of households in Japan use a PC; another 5000 are missing, most of them be- commonplace at workplaces with the in- Sony announces the Blu-ray Disc; Putin and cause of the tsunami); an area of 20km radius troduction of Windows95; 10 million people Bush sign Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reduc- around the site is evacuated and declared un- use mobile phones; Kobe Earthquake kills tions (SORT); in Japan, the salt trade is liberal- inhabitable; Japan switches from analog to di- 6500 people; members of the AUM sect kill ized; the school week is reduced to five school gital TV; Lenovo (China) takes over the PC-seg- 13 and injure 6300 in a sarin attack on the days (no school on Saturdays); the Road Traffic ment of the Nippon Electric Company (NEC); Tokyo subway; World Trade Organization Law is revised, penalties for drunk driving are Kan Naoto resigns, Noda Yoshihko (DPJ) be- (WTO) founded; Asian Women's fund estab- increased; South Korea and Japan host the comes PM; the yen-dollar exchange rate rea- lished; first official recognition of and apolo- FIFA world-cup together; bilateral negotiations ches ¥ 75 / $ (strongest yen since end of WW gy to the victims of Japanese colonialism. between Japan and North Korea. WWII); Kim Jong-un becomes the new leader 1996 – cable TV and DVD-ROM introduced; in- 2003 – USA and allies invade Irak under the false of North Korea; diet passes law for the estab- vestigation by the Ministry of Finance re- pretenses that Iraq is involved into the 9.11- lishment of a Reconstruction Agency. veals housing loan crisis, loss of total assets attacks, produces weapons of mass destruct- 2012 – South Korea's president Lee Myung-bak ¥ 6.4 trillion, financial system at the brink tion and is about to master the production of causes outrage in Japan by setting foot on the of collapse, bail-out policies adopted; Hashi- nuclear weapons; Japan deploys forces to Iraq (Dokdo, controlled by Korea, moto Ryūtarō PM (LDP); Democratic Party of (for non-combat support, missions continue claimed by Japan); Japan's Foreign Ministry Japan founded (liberalism, multiculturalism, until 2009); The Liberal Party merges with the causes outrage in China by a setting up a web- decentralization, etc). Comprehensive Nu- Democratic Party (DPJ). site in support of Japan's claims to the Senka- clear Test Ban Treaty adopted; "financial big 2004 – Several Japanese citizens are taken hos- ku Islands; several right-wing organizations bang" (big financial reform to overcome the tage in Iraq to force Japan to withdraw its mili- merge to the Japan Restauration Party (neo- the post-bubble crisis; in effect until 2001). tary (one hostage killed, decapitation televised conservative, revisionist, economically neolib- 1997 – ASEAN+3 (Southern Asia + Japan, South in the internet); Teito Rapid Transit Authority eral); landslide victory of LDP in general elec- Korea, China) established; privatized, becomes Tokyo Metro; display of tions, rightwing nationalist Abe Shinzō again raised to 5%; law for the promotion of the consumption tax-inclusive pricing made com- PM, promises to make Japan proud again, and culture of the Ainu minority, organ trans- pulsory; negotiations between Japan and to lead it out of yet another "lost decade" by plantation law, Public Nursing Care Insur- North Kora (return of abducted Japanese citi- means of monetary easing, fiscal , ance Law pass diet; Honkong returned to for food assistance, etc.). The Chinese Le- and structural reforms ("Abenomics").

I 10

VII.2 – Splendor and Misery in the First Five Years of "Abenomics"

Based on various sources in print and in the public domain

2013 – Park Geun-hye President of South Ko- ry legislation; Japan Sports Agency (JSA) esta- male governor of Tokyo (economic liberalism, rea; Xi Jinping President of the People's Re- lished to streamline and unify sport related aggressive privatization, efficiency-based bud- public of China; registered as policies; under the umbrella of the Ministry of getary reform, protection of the environment, world cultural heritage; South Korea bans Defense, the Acquisition, and Lo- conservative nationalism, etc.); Japanese ath- import of Japanese fishery products because gistics Agency (ATLA) is established; Tempo- letes win a couple of medals in the Brazil of fear of radioactive contamination; Tokyo rary Staffing Services Law enacted (regulating Olympic Games; the Tenno announces that he wins the bid for the 2020 Olympic Summer working conditions of dispatched workers); is sort of tired of being Emperor and wants to Games; declared Intangible Japan's Foreign Minister and his South Korean retire; Murata Renhō (Lien-Fang) becomes the Cultural Heritage; encouraged also by the US counterpart come to terms about the WWII head of the Democratic Party (Minshintō, see (and triggered by people publishing own ra- comfort women issue: the Japanese govern- above); the Chinese Lenovo corporation an- diation measurements) the Diet promulga- ment "feels painfully the responsibility for ma- nounces plan to buy the PC segment of Fujitsu tes the Act on the Protection of Specially De- ny women's honor and dignity having been vi- Limited; census reveals decline of Japan's po- signated Secrets ("State Secrecy Law", an olated under the involvement of the military pulation (127 million); Nikkei average stock "unprecedented threat to freedom of infor- at that time" (so the Foreign Minister of Japan price in December: ¥ 19.114; $/¥ exchange mation" according to Reporters Without Bor- at the joint press conference); Nikkei average rate 1:116; World Press Freedom Index rank ders, a return to the WWII Peace Preservati- stock price ¥ 17.450; exchange rate $1 : ¥119; 67 (-6); Also in 2016: the Renminbi becomes on Law according to other critics); Abe visits Press Freedom Index rank: 61. Also in 2015: an international currency; Donald Trump wins the Yasukuni shrine (where also war crimi- in Tianjin, China, 165 people die in a massive the US presidential election. nals are enshrined) and further damages the explosion of a chemicals' storehouse; 130 are 2017 – the Japan Gerontological Society propos- relations with Japan's neighbors; Nikkei ave- killed in simultaneous terror attacks commit- es to define as Senior Citizens all persons of rage stock price: ¥ 16.291, $ to ¥ exchange ted by ISIL in Paris. 75 or more years of age; the mayor of Tokyo, rate: 1:105; World Press Freedom Index: 2016 – The oil price drops to a low of $ 28 per Koike Yuriko, establishes the Tokyo Citizens rank 53 (rank 22 in 2012, and 11 in 2010). barrel, and the growth of China's economy has First Association (localism, right-wing popu- 2014 – Akasaki Isamu, Amano Hiroshi and Na- slowed down, and as a consequence the Nik- lism); US-Japan summit at Tokyo; media re- kamura Shuji are awarded the Nobel Prize in kei plunges rapidly, and the bank of Japan res- veal that PM Abe and his wife are involved in Physics for their development of blue LEDs; ponds to that by adopting a policy of negative favoritism in the educational sector ("Mori- smartphone penetration rate 53,5%, PC pe- interest rates, which again causes investments kake" scandal); in the framework of the Wor- netration rate 86,9%; Tax-Free Small-Lot In- in real estate to rise to the highest level since king-Style Reform (see 2016) the upper limit vestment Program introduced to boost ap- the bubble of 1989; Oosumi Yoshinori receives of overtime is set at 100 per month (!); petite for investments (NISA, "Nippon Indi- the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for jobs-to-applicants ratio with 1.48 highest ever vidual Savings Account"); the consumption his research on autophagy in yeast cells; North measured (1.46 at the time of the "bubble"); tax rises to 8%; the star researcher Obakata Korea tests a long range missile (flies over Oki- Special Provisions to the Imperial House Law Haruko becomes world-famous for having nawa); Toshiba sells its White goods segment Concerning the Emperor's promul- committed massive data fraud in her stem- to the Midea Group (China); The Hokkaidō bul- gated; the LDP experiences a historical defeat cell research; Abe announces to lower the let train starts service; the Democratic Party of in the elections of the Tokyo City Parliament, corporate tax rate from 35% to 20% in the Japan (DPJ, Minshūtō), and the Japan Innova- Koike's right-wing Citizens First Association years to come; Abe (who campaigns for a re- tion Party (Ishin no tō) merge to form the De- (see above) strongest party; the price of land vision of the "pacifist" article 9 of the consti- mocratic Party (Minshintō: centrism, constitu- adjoining the Ginza road in Tokyo exceeds tution) emphasizes the right of collective tional democracy, social liberalism, multicul- "bubble"-period levels; the EU-Japan Trade self-defense; the Japan Restoration Party turalism, popular sovereignty, international Agreement "90% complete"; the UN Treaty merges with the Unity Party (founded in cooperation, pacifism, etc.); The first of a ser- on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is 2013) to form the Innovation Party (central- ies of cabinet meetings to shape legislation adopted by 122 member states (yet all NATO ist, conservative, small government, decen- for the Reform of the Work-Style is held, con- states, Australia, Japan, South, and North Ko- tralization); the UN Human Rights Commis- stituting the core of what is supposed to be rea are not among them); Okinoshima and sion mentions the treatment of the WWII the "second phase of Abenomics" [reducing associated sites are listed as World Cultural comfort women issue by Japan in a report on long working hours of employees by means of Heritage; the entourage of Koike Yuriko estab- the state of violence against women, the Abe regulations on overtime to make it attractive lishes the Japan First Association (preparation government issues a rebuttal, then with- for women and elderly to join the shrinking for the coming general elections); the Toshiba draws it in order to not further feed the criti- work force (Japan has the lowest birth rate in Corporation is demoted to the Second List of cism; Abe Shinzō meets Xi Jinping, first Japa- the world); reducing the disparity in wages be- the Tokyo Stock Exchange; the total value of nese-Chinese summit since 3 years; 3rd Abe tween full-time employees and irregular wor- the assets of the Government Invest- cabinet is formed; Nikkei average stock price kers to enhance morale and productivity (part- ment Fund reaches a historical high (¥149 tril- ¥ 17.450; exchange rate $ 1: ¥ 119; Press time and term-contract workers account for lion); North Korea undertakes ist 6th nuclear Freedom Index rank 59 (-6). Also in 2014: Le- 40% of the labor force); raising wages to in- test, the UN Security Council imposes sanc- novo (China) takes over Motorola Mobile; crease purchasing power and consumer spen- tions in response (for the 9th time); the Go- the Russian Federation annexes the Crimean ding (remains weak despite growth of the fi- vernor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko, establishes the Peninsula from Ukraine; Ebola outbreak in nance and export sectors of the economy]; Party of Hope (right-wing populism, anti-nu- West Africa (20.000 casualties); in the Mid- Promotion of Women in the Workplace Bill en- clear power, administrative reform, localism, dle East the Islamic State (ISIL, ISIS, IS) is acted; Hon Hai Precision Industry (Taiwan) etc.); Edano Yukio establishes the Constitutio- established. buys the Sharp Corporation; G7-summit at Shi- nal Democratic Party of Japan (socially liberal, 2015 – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine mashi, Obama visits Hiroshima (first visit ever centrist, constitutional grass-roots democracy, for Ōmura Satoshi (Japan), William Champ- of a US president); yet another raise of the anti-nuclear power, etc.); in the general elect- bell (US) and Tu Youyou (China) for the deve- consumption tax from 8% to 10% announced ions on October 10 clear victory of Abe's LDP lopment of various groundbreaking pharma- for 2019; revision of the Public Offices Election (248 seats, Edano's Const. Dem. Party 55, Ko- ceuticals; ISIL highjacks two Japanese citizens Act (voting age for all citizens of over 18); the ike's Party of Hope 50); Nikkei average stock and demands 200 million dollar ransom; Abe Brexit referendum in Great Britain temporarily price in December: ¥ 22,764; $/¥ exchange gives a speech at the occasion of the 70th sends the Nikkei down to an average stock rate 1:112; World Press Freedom Index rank anniversary of the end of WWII, avoiding any price of ¥15.000 (soon recovers); the Poké- 72 (-5). Also in 2017: massive protest move- direct mentioning of Japan's responsibility, mon GO wave grows into a tsunami of plane- ment in Korea, President Park Geun-hye ar- thus "makes an end to apologizing diploma- tary proportions and engulfs Japan; the gov- rested, Moon Jae-in elected as new president; cy" (Nihon keizai shinbun) and is received ac- ernment issues ¥28 trillion to aid the econo- Kim Jong-nam (eldest son of the ex-leader of cordingly by the former victims of Japan's ag- my; Koike Yuriko (ex-Minister of Defense in North Korea) assassinated in a VX-toxin attack gression; cabinet advances revision of milita- Abe's cabinet of 2007) becomes the first fe- at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

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