The History of the Japanese Empire: Every Year

See how Japan underwent a rapid transformation into the modern era by creating one of the fastest rising empires.
➤ Support this channel with my Patreon!: / emperortigerstar
Music used:
"Ishikari Lore" by Kevin MacLeod
found at www.incompetech.com
Sources:
- The Constitution of the Empire of Japan (for distinguishing Naichi from Gaichi)
- D.K. Atlas of World History
- Japanese coast guard (for EEZ limits set in 1996)
- Past Works
- The Second Sino Japanese War, Chinese Civil War(Phase I) by War Destiny Mapping (for front lines in China)

[@EmperorTigerstar]

For those wondering, Hirohito being labeled as "Showa" is due to the custom of the emperor being a bestowed a posthumous name after their passing, which is also why the current emperor is still labeled as Naruhito.

[@griffinhunter3206]

thanks, i was confused

[@user-ie4oe9zt3t]

As a japanese, I have a concern. regarding the notation "平成天皇" in the video, he is still alive and well, even though he has gave up the throne of the 天皇. Therefore, this notation is not good.

[@DJH47]

​@@user-ie4oe9zt3tI have been curious about this since the abdication; thank you for clarifying.

[@blueboy3990]

@@user-ie4oe9zt3t He's not ganna be well after I play with my Homemade toy tomorrow at 5:00 pm

[@goldenrepublic6848]

Is the North America every year video still in the works?

[@xr0_k1ll3r7]

I like how he shows postwar Japan in this video, since modern Japan retains many imperial customs, such as the flag and anthem being references to the emperor.

[@Duke_of_Lorraine]

They also retain their naval flag, which many think was the WW2-era flag.

[@alecity4877]

And that there's still an emperor, Naruhito.

[@huge7800]

​@@Duke_of_Lorrainethe naval flag is not the same as the one used during the war, but it is the same motif.

[@reavercity568]

crazy how a state would keep its flag without changing its government system

[@Duke_of_Lorraine]

@@reavercity568 the emperor's powers were reduced to a symbolic level though.

[@jeepmega629]

Crazy how fast the empire rose and fell

[@BHuang92]

It rose and fell like the sun. On the irony..........

[@MechanicMind01]

The Rising Sun and the setting same

[@LOL-in3uc]

They still outlived both the German Empire and WWII Germany combined.

[@sirllamaiii9708]

The fruits of victory are tumbling into our mouths too quickly.

[@sirllamaiii9708]

@@banananananananananana Read the Tanaka memorial. It was always the plan. They really had no other option if they were to go to war. Want to take over China. That needs resources. Southeast is rich and poorly defended. Simple as. Honestly they did the best they could with what they had

[@XS-03_Apollo]

Interesting how Hirohito managed to stay in power from 1926 all the way to 1989

[@blueboy3990]

In power from 1926 -> 1945 Symbolic figure 1945 -> 1989

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

​@@blueboy3990 Historically speaking, the Emperor of Japan has always been a ceremonial sock puppet since 1184. If he wasn't then the craziness of the Taisho era wouldn't happen under Emperor Taisho's watch...

[@liljs4189]

@@theotherohlourdespadua1131that ended in the Meiji restoration, the emperor had actual governmental powers by then and even overruled for a surrender to the Allie’s against the chancellors desire to keep fighting after both atomic bombs , he lost all that power with Douglas MacArthur

[@carlbates9110]

@@liljs4189 The surrender was pretty much the only time the Emperor used his power, and there was an effort to stop him by force. Up to that point the military was acting like they were Shoguns.

[@user-sh3cf7kd6e]

​@@blueboy3990 It has much more power over Japan than the British monarchy over Britain.

[@compatriot852]

Makes you wonder what would happen if Japan had remained with the allies after WW1

[@thanosofthecommunistdruzhi9107]

Well, that wouldn't have sat well with anyone in Japan. The Allies were well known to be some of the most manipulative pieces of turds that absolutely nobody trusted. They screwed over the Arabs, what's there to stop them from screwing over everyone else? Japan cited that the Western powers only wanted Western nations to rise to the top, and that the formation of anything relative to a Japanese empire would be absurd and should not exist. Thus, came the oil embargoes. Germany, on the other hand, needed allies and were willing to accept an authoritarian nationalist ally, albeit they were rooting for KMT China at first.

[@thanosofthecommunistdruzhi9107]

oh, and they also screwed over the Italians. Italy was promised a lot more land than it got, thanks to President Wilson (who is not very respected btw)'s Thirteen Points

[@yets0]

​@@thanosofthecommunistdruzhi9107nobody likes Winston

[@Nn-3]

They had wanted to maintain the alliance with Britain, but Britain broke it. If I recall, this was to avoid a naval arms race against America.

[@nomorechess]

​@@Nn-3Which makes sense since they have more potential as an ally rather than the Japanese who are far away.

[@Kastelt]

What an amazing empire. I sure hope they didn't commit unspeakable atrocities to other countries.

[@Kastelt]

@@thenaturekid3739 I know, I'm being sarcastic.

[@blueboy3990]

I sure hope they didn't do something bad in nanjing

[@zachriley55]

Ahhhhhh....

[@bigdavis6469]

Yeah they killed 300k civilians in a 200k population Nanjing city during that time😢evil Japanese🤬

[@danielcrud9345]

​@@blueboy3990What are you saying, Japan at that time where built on honour, so of course they wouldn't let their soldiers commit heinous war crimes in Nanjing

[@dabigchina]

The music: relaxing The situation on the ground: warcrimes.

[@Beeville777]

Incredible how this big empire this empire was on pure land, now imagine that will the maritime lands and you can clearly see how darn big it really was

[@KinnyRiddle]

By convention, an Emperor is only named after his era name AFTER he has kicked the bucket (e.g. Hirohito is now officially called Emperor Showa). As Akihito the former Emperor (officially Emperor Emeritus in English) is still alive as of September 2023, he would still be called Akihito rather than "Emperor Heisei".

[@jeffreygao3956]

Oops!

[@hectorperez6160]

Been the prime minister of japan in the 20's-30's-40's was a very risky job

[@Torantes]

japanese history post meiji restoration is actually crazy

[@Eostt4cw]

Great mapping, good as always

[@danijelmurgic648]

Great video!

[@muhammedjaseemshajeef6781]

Nice work❤

[@drawingcheetah7407]

wow how nice! I was just learning about the island of shikoku and this came up!

[@Guacamoc]

Here’s an idea: Whilst looking online I saw a shortage of maps plotting the distribution of ethnicities in the USA over time. I was particularly interested in the U.S. southwest and how the rising Mexican immigrant and descendant population and subsequent repatriation affected demographic in the region. It would be cool to see with other groups such as English v. Irish in Massachusetts, Scots Irish v. African v. English in the South, and German v. everyone else, and everyone v. Everyone in NYC. Please please please consider this in your next vid!

[@tylerclayton6081]

Population is pretty mixed throughout the country though

[@Guacamoc]

@@tylerclayton6081 I remember hearing sometime that by and large that mixture began happening in the 1950s. I haven’t researched the claim, but just accepted it because of the fact there were sheeleytowns and little polands and Croatias in my city with old signs still up, obviously majority Mexican little mexicos, and a Chinatown. There’s a Swedish town in my state so I just accepted this claim and have found anything in my day to day life to be overly suspicious of it. Interesting idea for a study tho

[@TheStickCollector]

Nice to see the map

[@justyes1234]

1:14 Greatest extent

[@Anwoo]

Changing side countries make look video brilliant. keep the nice work 👾👍

[@boreragnarok666]

wow they got alot of land. Good thing they did'nt do anything bad

[@joshuapartridge5092]

they invented weeaboos, thats bad enough

[@christianhoej1562]

cannot tell if sarcastic or not.

[@jan_Kilan]

@@christianhoej1562 i think it is

[@i_barely_hee-know_her]

​@@christianhoej1562He is

[@alimahh1]

Bruhhhh you serious??

[@Dickheaddotcom]

I do wish you could have used a different colour gradient. I have a little bit of a hard time distinguishing shades of red sorry.

[@Norvoota1989]

I enjoyed him show the rail lines in Manchuria

[@concept5631]

Same

[@thegamingwolf5612]

Japan so cool they got naruto as emperor

[@blueboy3990]

Peter Griffin is president

[@leszas872]

That background music will forever give me HowToBasic PTSD

[@Oguzxon1]

I am in Japan now. It is truly a great country

[@ililyt]

I like how you show fish rebellion in 1996

[@2DaylnHistory]

Great video. One thing that has always interested me about Imperial Japan is they uniquely defined what "their" territory was, and never really tried to stretch beyond it. Kinda unique for naval superpowers.

[@concept5631]

Japan in general has always been an exception in many ways.

[@onatdeveci5502]

Takeo Miki was prime minister until 1976. Fukuda Takeo served as prime minister 1976-78.

[@mixererunio1757]

What are those dots inside of China?

[@downey2294]

you mean the lakes?

[@jeffreygao3956]

For a brief period, they could be seen as basically Asian Nazis. PS The beginning had The Last Samurai and Rorouni Kenshin happen in a flash.

[@jeffreygao3956]

@@banananananananananana If you ask me, the modern Federal Republic deserves just as much forgiveness as modern Japan and people should quit picking on Germany.

[@hockeyislife2]

Why did they gain territory in the late 60s- early 70’s? And then lose some in the 90s?

[@Duke_of_Lorraine]

It looks like the EEZ (200 miles from shore) is now used instead of drawing some lines in the ocean. As for gaining some in the 60s, they got some remote islands back, like Iwo Jima, that were occupied by the USA after WW2.

[@t-mag3004]

The territory gained in the 70's was japanese islands under US military administration until they were given back to Japan as part of the Okinawa Reversion Agreeement; an "amendment" to the 1951 Treaty of San Fransisco. (the treaty that ended US occupation of Japan's main islands) As for the changes in ocean claims, idk... changes in international maritime law must've been at play. EDIT: EEZ maritime boundaries

[@roecatgaming]

Its the EEZ

[@hockeyislife2]

@@Duke_of_Lorraine thanks

[@hockeyislife2]

@@t-mag3004 thanks also

[@Michiganian]

another great release by the emperor himself! as geography and space has just released his history and flags of asia.

[@akimgranada7239]

Cool video as always? Hey Tigerstar, I wonder, have you considered doing a timeline of Kurdistan?

[@kaifxaif9502]

Quite a short lived empire they had.

[@johnhoftb]

0:28 Nintendo was founded.

[@jeffreygao3956]

Veevee! Eevee!

[@goldenrepublic6848]

Is the North America everyday video still coming out.

[@hjalmarfreidenvall1655]

Neat

[@lesscringeymapperdude]

the music is too calm for an empire like this

[@jeffreygao3956]

Fitting for an East Asian theme though!

[@lesscringeymapperdude]

@@jeffreygao3956 true

[@user-sv1vn4nm8h]

The Emperor Emeritus (Akihito) is not called Emperor Heisei...

[@rusticcloud3325]

Yes, he is not deceased yet

[@user-sv1vn4nm8h]

​@@rusticcloud3325Yes, it is, so this video is wrong.

[@hadilol]

nice

[@tahasahin8408]

that change betweet 1944 and 1945 tho

[@nakenmil]

What the hell happened in 1996?

[@TheTechCguy]

Ahh, this takes me back to when I did my karate dojo, exactly 20 years ago! Ever since being in my ancestral Philippine homeland, back in 1999, and doing karate in 2003, I was more attuned to Asian culture and history even though I was born in the Western hemisphere, U.S. I am a beast! 😎❤❤

[@nverdice9333]

Shinzo Abe blown away what else do I have to say

[@Raptor810Blue]

Completely unrelated, what point were you tryna make

[@jeffreygao3956]

Thank goodness! He's just like David Irving except with better hair.

[@walemaa5631]

Do a video showing Ukrainian Civil War of 1918 between Directory and Hetmanate

[@lebendigesgespenst7669]

Oh lovely

[@hermanmuncly1044]

1:15 bassboostedstarspangledbannerwitheaglescreechandgunshots.mp3

[@user-jb7yj6ou8s]

Top

[@zmaic74]

What happened in 1996?

[@G0TIMAN]

Why did they lose teritory in 90s?

[@omo7002]

The way ocean borders worked changed in the 90s

[@NguyenNguyen-fq6ov]

UNCLOS went into effect, which essentially uses EEZ (200 nautical miles maximum) instead of just some lines in ocean

[@G0TIMAN]

i said in 90s @naymyojapan4695

[@randomnessrules4971]

1:09 - 1:16 A whole lot of blood

[@user-bo7oi9dy7p]

I have one question. Why did you label the Senkaku Islands, which Japan effectively controls, as a claimed area?

[@Jose.AFT.Saddul]

Probably because of the PRC

[@subtitleaddict5343]

RIP for the victims caused by Japanese Empire

[@rndmguy7617]

Bro they like gained everything and then had to restart with that they had from the beginning, but then after tthat it started the same way it did in the beginning with japan expanding ou to the Islands, THEY ARE GONNA REUTRN

[@TwjordyjSnak]

I sure hope this nation doesn't commit heinous and vile attrocities!

[@HaziqXIX]

As Malaysian,I agreed

[@mrraichudealola9227]

1:15 boo-womp

[@morenauer]

The shades of red are a terrible idea. It's impossible to tell what's gaichi, vassals or occupied. USE DIFFERENT COLORS, you don't have to worry about other nations' territories having their separate colors in the map.

[@firemangan]

Dude, you can clearly see the shades that represents each status and it wouldn’t make sense to use an entirely different color or occupied lands, puppets, vassals etc as that would just make them look like they were independent.

[@ilyas2825]

Are you colourblind cuz I clearly see it and I have bad eyesight

[@moickrackvr]

axis leaders after war: Hitler:💀(commited suicide) Mussolini:💀(was shot) Hirohito:😀(continued to govern until his death in 1989)

[@MimOzanTamamogullar]

That joke shows a very shallow understanding of these leaders. Hirohito and Mussolini was a lot more passive in general than Hitler was. Now Mussolini was still the leader of his country and therefore responsible for its actions, unlike Hirohito, who yielded very little political influence.

[@ramirosotto]

​​@@MimOzanTamamogullarthe main reason is that the US executing or even judging the Emperor would mean that a post-war alliance with Japan would have been impossible

[@Justin-pe9cl]

My only criticism is to use contrasting colors to highlight the territories. It’s a little hard to tell what’s what.

[@velocityy13]

Japan

[@TheLocalLt]

The Empire of Japan (since 1945 simply the “State of Japan”) is the last country on earth with an emperor as its head of state, at least for now. This has been the case since the 1970s when the Ethiopian Empire was overthrown by Communists and the Persian Empire was overthrown by Islamic fundamentalists

[@thespiritphoenix3798]

Not Persia but Iran. Under the Pahlavi dynasty it has only ever been known as Iran which better reflects it's ethnic composition. Iranian is a blanket ethnic and cultural term much like Slav or Germanic. Persians are merely the largest group within that. Also I do not believe that Shah is equivalent to Emperor

[@jeffreygao3956]

Ethiopia and Iran need their emperors back; The republic and the Ayatollahs are doing terribly!

[@djkrkdmmme7523]

Can you third Congolese war

[@cheesechicken39]

I think "The History of modern Japan" is better video title.

[@therongjr]

🎶 Japan can keep the islands 🎶

[@andrewjgrimm]

1:32 Mongolia changed its borders?

[@papazataklaattiranimam]

Throat singing

[@CarpeVerpa]

1962 was when Mongolia and China began to officially delineate their border via treaty.

[@mamacojackson9019]

First country to overtake the British Royal Navy

[@johnatanmejialondono5112]

Me pregunto si algún día llegare de primero a un video

[@stratospheric37]

Maybe you should make your title The History of Modern Japan: Every Year since you also map out post imperial Japan.

[@blueboy3990]

It's still an empire, it has an emperor

[@user-bo7oi9dy7p]

​@@blueboy3990 It should be called Kingdom

[@kanak9305]

This song gives me ptsd. If you know, you know.

[@user-in8qh3zf9d]

This video should be remade with different colours so it is easier to tell because using different shades of red was a bad idea.

[@user-yq6we8jw4n]

Major scale based bgm is not Japanese style

[@lofrancogabriele431]

Can you make the history of Italy pls?

[@DatGmodDude_TheGeographyMemer]

Its 2023, you have 479k subs AND YOUR VIDEO INTROS STILL LOOK LIKE A SCHOOL POWERPOINT

[@YeastCartography]

Missing the occupation of Kamchatka and other areas of Russia but other than that this is pretty good

[@Abatakam_00]

Be like: Thailand 🗿🗿🗿🗿

[@florinivan6907]

1:12 pretty much why war with the US had become inevitable. With the general direction of expansion being towards the South the Phillipinnes were in the way. There was no viable method of avoiding them in any all out assault on South East Asia.

[@Vicenarius]

the music does NOT fit

[@chronikhiles]

Agreed, the mellow music does not jive with this video.

[@Raptor810Blue]

Maybe for the first fifteen seconds but damn it stopped working quick

[@Vicenarius]

@@Raptor810Blue bro i don't know why emperortigerstar put the most calm "japanese music" in a video that showcases one of the worst empires to ever exist in the modern era

[@lmperialist-Royalist]

Hello

[@NoobHammer]

What I find incredible on this video about Japan is the Philippines because I feel like it

[@Anonymous_world5000]

It's absolutely incredible how Japan went from being an imperialist power to facing the devastation of two nuclear bombs, only to emerge as one of the wealthiest nations globally. Today Japan is the leading country in technology and robotics, and Japanese culture is absolutely amazing. I love Japan. 🇯🇵❤️😊

[@Joe_biden113]

Another Japanese supremacist. Japan is not the leading country technology, this is the biggest joke you could possibly made 🤣, US is the leading country on technology and robotic, US invented AI, robotic was created by US. US robotic are used in military instead of civilian goods. Japan still use cash to this day as a payment 🤦‍♂️

[@Anonymous_world5000]

@@Joe_biden113 ​​⁠ You’re completely Wrong. Why do you talk such nonsense? 🤣 The US World and News Report rated Japan as number 1 in technological expertise. Datapandas rated Japan as the number 1 most technologically advanced country in the world. GeeksforGeeks rated Japan as the number 1 most technologically advanced country. Trust me I've been to Japan and it's amazing, the Japanese technology was absolutely incredible and I loved it. So there you go. Japan is the leading country in technology and robotics, and Japan is an amazing country. 🇯🇵👍😊 Quit being such a negative Nancy and talking nonsense. Do your own research dude!

[@juno6602]

Japan was punished too much after WWII. They should have retained all of the Kurils, as well as southern Sakhalin, which were rightfully Japanese long before the war began. By neutering Japan, all the west accomplished was giving free reign to the expansionism of Russia and China.

[@user-dg7nh7jr5i]

일본인들은 일본인 전법자들 찬양한다

[@jeffreygao3956]

Easy to say that in hindsight but the Asian Nazis needed to be punished.

[@jeffreygao3956]

They were Asian Nazis.

[@thedeemguygaming6454]

Yes one of my favorite Empires ^ ^ Love to Japan

[@k3m0t19]

tell that to people of nanjing bro

[@blueboy3990]

@@k3m0t19 who are you gonna tell the orphans ? This post has been brought to you by hirohito

[@blueboy3990]

They spread anime all over asia using cosplayers in military outfits, that's sooooo inspiring, wish they bring it back

[@thedeemguygaming6454]

Spreading Anime Femboys with skirts all over asia@@blueboy3990

[@fissionabledolphin]

you should go to anywhere in East Asia and say this out loud they would love you 😍😍😍

[@ritikaupmanyu9136]

Its funny that the music sounds more chinese than japanese

[@bericbird5886]

Please do Modern history for Pakistan 🇵🇰 (1947-2023)

[@ColCoal]

RIP in peace you were pretty great. So long space cowboy.

[@theamericane2655]

Wait Japan still has an emperor?

[@downey2294]

yea but like most countries that still have monarchies. its mostly symbolic.

[@TheAustrianAnimations87]

Yes, the last country to still have an emperor!

[@carlbates9110]

If Japan stopped at Manchuria the empire could’ve probably lasted for the rest of the century.

[@fyang1429]

The reason Japan went into Manchuria was probably the same one that made it start the unwinnable war against China - those crazy people in the military (and by extension the government at the time) who believed in unreasonable strategies.

[@dunkey7739]

If imperial Japan didn’t imperial Japan they would’ve stayed imperial Japan

[@carlbates9110]

@@dunkey7739 Imperial Japan did not have the same policies throughout its entire existence.

[@MimOzanTamamogullar]

​@@dunkey7739The imperial government was against even the occupation of Manchuria, let alone everything else. That could've easily happened.

[@fyang1429]

Sad to see the prewar Japanese cultural influence still lives on in East Asia and made this stupid hell of a place for people to find work-life balance or escape from angry nationalists

[@ramirosotto]

Why you didn't show the US occupying the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa and others) 1945-1972 ?

[@CAProductions051]

Because this video is centered on Japan.

[@ramirosotto]

​​@@CAProductions051the Ryukyu Islands are an integral part of Japan, they are shown as part of the Japanese Empire, then the video shows the US occupation of mainland Japan but not the Ryukyu Islands, but when those Islands return to Japan they are shown again. ?

[@user-bo7oi9dy7p]

​@@ramirosotto The Ryukyu Islands were temporarily excluded from the scope of "Japan.

[@TheAustrianAnimations87]

I absolutely love Japan's rise from an isolated island to a great power and it's impressive how they won against much bigger countries like Russia and China. Even though what they did in WW2 was completely messed up, it's still impressive how Japan, like Germany, has become a Top 5 economic power and Top 10 military power today. It's also the ONLY country worldwide to still have an emperor!

[@konplayz]

You should show the Senkaku Islands as disputed, as you decided to do it with the southern Kuriles.

[@bonkura2057]

Senkaku Islands is being claimed between Japan and China. But I think it is certainly Japanese territory because China claimed after finding the submarine resources. But Japan had claimed long time before the finding.

[@Kasubaz]

Meiji era solos

[@phoemyint6676]

🇲🇲❤🇯🇵

[@user-zd3lw1eu9c]

Ήταν μεγάλη δύναμη η Ιαπωνία Στον δεύτερο παγκόσμιο πόλεμο

[@PerplexPlays]

let's goooo

[@cyclonegames9215]

Two modern day geopolitical nightmares could’ve been eliminated if Japan was allowed to keep all territory it possessed prior to WWI after its surrender in WW2.

[@ew-uy6cs]

Tell the Soviets that. They would take the Korean territory anyway. And the CCP would still wanna invade Taiwan.

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

So explain to me why would you want the Koreans to hate the US? And also what about Papua New Guinea? No way Australia is going to let that territory exist given what happened...

[@heremapping4484]

@@ew-uy6cs along with the Americans

[@leohe2594]

You're seriously implying that Taiwan and Korea should be under Japanese occupation without any regard for the local's self determination? There's a reason why Koreans hate the Japanese even more than the Chinese do

[@jaimee03]

万歳＼(^-^)／

[@edgreen2660]

Doesn't Japan still claim the southern part of Sakhalin Island?

[@bbenjoe]

I don't think so.

[@user-bo7oi9dy7p]

"Japan renounces all right, title and claim to the Kurile Islands, and to that portion of Sakhalin and the islands adjacent to it over which Japan acquired sovereignty as a consequence of the Treaty of Portsmouth of 5 September 1905."

[@SISI-uk8tt]

The Japanese Empire was a great empire even though they did commit horrible atrocities it’s surprising how they managed to take almost all of the pacific

[@JimmyM1975]

To be honest every huge empire committed horrible atrocities

[@SimplyIncredible]

Except that most people forgot about the atrocities and many of the people who committed the crimes were released.

[@SISI-uk8tt]

@@JimmyM1975 Yes i know but i was just talking about japan there were empires that did similar atrocities

[@Curwen73]

@@JimmyM1975 'Rome make a desert and call it peace'. Tacitus.

[@carlbates9110]

Japan wasn’t really cruel until the Interwar Era/WWII. With the Boxer Rebellion they were noted as being very respectable, while the Germans were the ones who bragged about being “Huns” because of how they acted.

[@L4B055]

e