Imperial Japan
Definition
Imperial Japan refers to the period from 1868 (Meiji Restoration) until 1945 (end of World War II), during which Japan was an empire ruled by an emperor. It was marked by rapid industrialization, militarization, westernization, and expansion into other parts of Asia.
Analogy
Imagine if your neighborhood started building up its resources rapidly - new houses popping up everywhere, everyone getting high-tech gadgets - then started taking over nearby neighborhoods. That's kind of like what happened with Imperial Japan.
Related terms
Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
Militarism: The belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.
Expansionism: The doctrine of expanding the territorial base (or economic influence) of a country, often by means of military aggression.
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