During the Meiji Era Japan became one of the highly industrialized countries of the world. Japan emerged as an imperialist nation in the Sino-Japanese War (1894 1895) resulting in the independence of Korea which came under Japanese influence. Japan also acquired Formosa. By the Russo-Japanese War (1904 1905), Japan ousted Russia from Manchuria. Japan also became a first-rate industrial power in the East.

During the First World War, Japan was the ally of the British and secured some benefits from the Treaty of Versailles. She became a permanent member of League of Nations. During the war Japan attempted to intervene in China’s affairs. In 1931 Japan seized Manchuria and withdrew from the League of Nations.

Japan soon became as aggressive as Germany and Italy, and these three powers formed the axis party in the Second World War. By 1938, Japan occupied the entire Chinese coast, and the important Chinese cities. In December 1941, the American fleet at Pearl Harbor in the island of Hawaii, was attacked by Japan. She also overran the Philippine Islands, the Dutch East Indies and Malaya. The Japanese then took Rangoon and Mandalay in Burma. The defeat of Italy and Germany during World War II, was a great setback for Japan.

In August 1945, President Truman of the U.S.A. ordered two atomic bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan was forced to surrender. After the occupation of Japan by the American forces under General Mac Arthur, made the degradation of Japan complete.

Being a very vigorous people, the Japanese showed quick signs of recovery. In 1947, elections were held in Japan and a democratic constitution was established. A Peace Treaty with Japan, was signed by all relevant nations at San Francisco in 1951.