Quickly developing nation → Japan wanted to be seen → equal with Western powers that had empires.
In Japan:
- fierce + aggressive form of nationalism (described as ultranationalism) → was promoted
Ultranationalistic beliefs → popular amongst Japanese
- public opinion → strongly approved of conquest of Korea in 1910 + supported idea of Japan expanding its empire
- Beliefs → driven by natural limitations that Japan faced.
- Most of Japan → covered by high mountains
- there was little farm land to grow food to feed rapidly growing population
Japan → did not have raw materials like iron ore and coal. → 1920s → Japan depended on importing raw materials from china and food for its growing population.
- Result → many ultranationalists argued → Japan had to expand to get access to raw materials that a modern nation needed.