Why Japan Never Became a Superpower

Start building your ideal daily routine 💪 The first 100 people who click on the link will get 25% OFF 🎁 Fabulous Premium ➡️ thefab.co/khanubis
In the 1980's, people widely assumed Japan was destined to be the next world superpower. Its economy was growing so fast it was projected to overtake the US... and then it didn't. So what went wrong? And how did Japan get so rich in the first place?
MUSIC:
“Rescue Mission” by Lupus Nocte*
“Greeted in Osaka” by Sight of Wonders*
“Caravan Trails” by Sight of Wonders*
“Japanese Temple” by Sight of Wonders*
“Temple of Runa” by ELFL*
“Grenadine” by West & Zander*
“Smashed” by Cushy*
“Japanese Garden” by Sight of Wonders*
“Chicago” by Joe Bagale
*via EpidemicSound
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
1:05 Sakoku
2:28 American delegation & Meiji Restoration
6:39 Post-war
11:41 Later 20th century + "Lost Decade"
14:17 Fabulous ad
📖 SOURCES:
Goto-Jones, Christopher. Modern Japan A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Pyle, Kenneth. The Japanese Question Power and Purpose In a New Era. The AEI Press, 1989.
www.insidejapantours.com/blog...
www.brookings.edu/opinions/ja...
www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/we...
👕 MERCH! crowdmade.com/collections/kha...
CONTACT: [e-mail]
SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES: [e-mail]
👥 DISCORD SERVER: / discord
THANK YOU, BRONZE AGE+ PATRONS! ( / khanubis )
Adri Cortesia, John Scarberry, Nif Lindsay, Rebanics, Robert Siska, Tasha, Anonymous Freak, ImNotDonaldTrump, Larry Burch, Tobi Burch-Rates
Or make one-time payments at paypal.me/khanubis
www.khanubis.tv

[@KhAnubis]

Start building your ideal daily routine 💪 The first 100 people who click on the link will get 25% OFF 🎁 Fabulous Premium ➡ thefab.co/khanubis

[@hungariancountryball2928]

Ok

[@fryhyh]

this video only has 2k views damn

[@nathanmchiyengi7883]

Kuril islands are russian

[@ev0308]

@@fryhyh wait yeah idk how

[@indiasuperclean6969]

HAHA POOR JAPAN ! SORRY SIR ONLY MY INDIA WILL BE SUPERPOWER SOON! THIS WHY IM SO LUCKY LIVE IN INDIA 🤗🇮🇳 THE CLEANEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD , WE GIVE RESPECT TO ALL WOMEN THEY CAN WALK SAFELY ALONE AT NIGHT AND WE HAVE CLEAN FOOD AND TOILET EVERYWHERE 🇮🇳🤗🚽, I KNOW MANY POOR PEOPLE JEALOUS WITH SUPER RICH CLEAN INDIA 🤗🇮🇳🤗🇮🇳🤗🇮🇳🤗🇮🇳🤗

[@prometheus7387]

Yeah imagine that just 80 years ago, the country that is now synonymous with anime was commiting war crimes that made the Nazis say "calm down"

[@mitonaarea5856]

Tbh that was before the National socialists genocided anyone.

[@geckoed132]

Ww2 Japan was something else

[@JamesRoyceDawson]

I see no disparity between those two statements

[@pavolhejny]

Some hope for russia

[@joel-uw2lg]

Its mostly because the leader was really bad

[@nathanseper8738]

In order to be a superpower, you need to have a vast quantity of resources you can upon in case of a war. Japan may be rich, but it is still dependent on stuff like oil from the Middle East and grain from America. If Japan was cut off from these things the economy would collapse very quickly.

[@jasondyrkacz8270]

Japan has always relied on other countries for oil.

[@illiiilli24601]

@@jasondyrkacz8270 and that's why it couldn't become a superpower, and that's also why they invaded the Dutch East Indies in WWII

[@oworandom]

@@illiiilli24601 and china in the sino-janpanese war

[@hua_tetsu_cat]

Japan's real power is not resousrces, they're not rich in those. Their richness is really the Japanese people 日本人. Look at Argentina for example they have the resources yet Japan has more economic might than Argentina. Their emperor even the PM that was mentioned on the video are the reasons Japan is Japan today.

[@havefuntazarasu5367]

Yeah it is a pity they don't get to take south eastern nation especially like indonesia, the most toxic country in the world

[@CliffCardi]

Considering it has the 3rd largest (and for a while the 2nd largest) GDP, its influence in western culture from ninjas to anime, and the fact that every western household owns a product made by a Japanese company (i.e. Honda, Sony, Toshiba, Yamaha, Nintendo, etc.), Japan has done pretty well for itself for the past 70 years. WWII Japan could never have dreamed of having this much world influence.

[@madensmith7014]

WW2 Japan really wasn't on track on being a superpower, just a major power equals with the British Commonwealth, the USA, Germany and the Soviets. Even then Japan was on the low end of major powers despite their major gains. It was 80's-90's Japan that was really eyeing, or had the chance, on being the world's biggest economy, overtaking the USA, which was considered as the global hegemon.

[@Alephbeth17]

Let's say Japan's soft diplomacy on par with superpower country but now overshadowing by Korean products (Korean manhwa, Korean video games)

[@lolking9771]

@@Alephbeth17 how about china dont forget them

[@yorka274]

@@Alephbeth17 manwha and korean video games are nowhere near on the level of global popularity and consumption as japanese manga and video games currently

[@yorka274]

@@lolking9771 china uses hard power and has very little to no soft power.

[@genghiskhan5701]

I love how in the 90s, it was predicted that the US and Japan would have a Pacific War rematch in the 2020s

[@villevalste1888]

You better knock on wood. I don't want this decade to get any worse than it already has.

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

Mate replace us with russia

[@ecurewitz]

@@ShubhamMishrabro or China

[@512TheWolf512]

Bruh. I predict that aliens will show up within 1930 hours and probe your ass.

[@genghiskhan5701]

@@ShubhamMishrabro Its more likely China. Russia's navy has been a joke for the last month

[@Franfran2424]

This lacks commentary on the real cause why Japan stopped growing. Their economy was highly oriented to industrial exports and services. The video does talk about how the service industry suffered from the housing price bubble. The export industry grew since the USA seeked to get cheaper industrial imports than locally. But as wages rose, exports to western countries became less attractive for the buyers, who turned to other industrialized nations to produce cheaper goods, like China. Now, Chinese wages had been increasing due to this export boom, so on the 2010s rich western countries started to swing their demand of exports to cheaper countries like India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Vietnam. Eventually, the next industrial centers will be switched to Africa or some latinamerican countries. Whoever is industrialized and cheap.

[@andresduques2013]

Which make me wonder what will happen when they run out of cheap labor countries? Will companies start to produce their goods in their own countries?

[@Seth9809]

@@andresduques2013 Robots, lots of jobs were killed by robots.

[@hatanokiripres]

Are you forgetting the Plaza Accord? For my entire life, I've referred to this as a sabotage

[@Franfran2424]

@@andresduques2013 They don't plan that far ahead. Profit now, and "we'll see" later

[@cuddlemuffin.9545]

Not gonna happen. Globalization is over

[@arifnasfi801]

The basic needs (ALL must be fulfilled) to become a superpower nation: 1. Having a large land mass that contain a lot of natural resources 2. Knowledge to processing those resources 3. Having a lot of population as your core basic market 4. Having nuclear bombs Seeing those points, I guess Japan never qualified to enter the class of superpower league...

[@leonardoleo5740]

With the exception of the 4(since no one really needs these to be a superpower), Japan failed. If it had colonised eastern Siberia, it definitely would become a power.

[@arifnasfi801]

@@leonardoleo5740 Point 4 is really important in the modern world, because if your country has huge natural resources but you don't have power guarantee that can be use as umbrella of your national defense, you may ended up like DR Congo (worst example) or the least your national policies will be dictate by the real superpower....

[@Golmar_227]

@@arifnasfi801 yes but just having nukes doesn’t guarantee being world superpower, for example North Korea possesses Nukes but they don’t quite qualifies as world superpower don’t they? (Although their nukes does discourages foreign powers from invading them)

[@arifnasfi801]

@@Golmar_227 North Korea lives like that because they short on natural resources.... Read my statements aboved,those points ALL need to be fulfill if you wanna be superpower nation...

[@tonykristhiofan1113]

@@Golmar_227 that's because they don't fulfill the first, second, or third criteria. According to this theory, you need ALL four of them to be a superpower. Having one is not enough and fulfilling the fourth criteria doesn't really guarantee the others will be fulfilled automatically

[@sionsmedia8249]

The short answer is population. Their population went from 40 million in 1900, to 70 million in 1937. 30 million in almost 40 years, they expanded massively. Their population went from 80 million in 1948, to 120 million in 1980. 40 million in almost 30 years, they were a global power. Their population went from 124 million in 1990, to 123 million now. -1 million in 30 years, they've stagnated for 30 years.

[@bcjmythical9576]

Like in Civ it's called "Starvation"

[@apinezstats2237]

@@bcjmythical9576 no, lol

[@plumebrise408]

Actually ,I want to correct some thing here : They had a population of 43.85 Million in 1900 ,70.36 Million in 1937 (+26.51 Million in 37 years) Had a population of 79.5 Million in 1948 ,116.6 Million in 1980 (+37.1 Million in 32 years) Had a population of 123.41 Million in 1990 ,to 128.08 Million in 2008 ,to 125.2 Million now . (+4.67 Million in 18 years ,--2.88 Million in 14 years)

[@misanthrope8803]

That is very interesting, nice fact

[@akihikosakurai4013]

It's 126 million

[@PakBallandSami]

"When you look at Japanese traditional architecture, you have to look at Japanese culture and its relationship with nature. You can actually live in a harmonious, close contact with nature - this very unique to Japan" --Tadao Ando

[@ElePerkele]

Japans forests are dying

[@MTobias]

Ironic that Ando only builts ridiculous concrete buildings that ciuldn't be further removed from nature.

[@luisperez-yr8mn]

Yeah thats why they are one of the countries that emit more co2 in the world

[@MTobias]

@@Jess-737 That's not quite true. Most Japanese live in dense urban areas, that's true. However because the population is so concentrated, it leaves a huge portion of the country, I think 70% or so of the country as forested mountains.

[@henrymugello3387]

@@ElePerkele Bold of you to say that.

[@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG]

I think you missed out one of the reasons why Imperial Japan surrendered was not entirely because of the Atomic bombs but also because Russia was taking advantage of the situation by using the opportunity to invade Japan too.

[@kane357lynch]

What could russia have done that america wasn't doing?

[@aoeu256]

The Japanese initially wanted to conditionally surrender in 1941, but they wanted a third party like India or Russia to do the trials, the US rejected Japan's conditional surrender conditions b/c they wanted to make sure Japan has no influence from Russia.

[@rustix3]

*USSR, just a correction as USSR incorporated not only Russia but also 14 other republics, which were heavily involved in the WW2 and economy of USSR.

[@jamesnguyen7069]

japan became america's b1tch when they surrendered. hence why they play baseball and do free trade w us. we get their cars for so cheap, hence why so many toyotas in america. their corps and businessmen are owned.

[@Admiral_Jezza]

The USSR had very little naval landing ability in it's pacific fleet, as much as people hate to admit, the nukes had a much bigger affect on their decision. It would only take one to remove the Emperor compared to a drawn out Soviet invasion.

[@tobirates916]

Thanks for giving us more of the history of Japan than I expected for this question. Longer than a typical KhAnubis video but worth it.

[@drpepper3838]

Pretty crazy to think that we were the only western country that was allowed to trade with Japan for over 200 years. But then again we weren't really into converting others to our religion like the Spanish and portuguese. We just wanted to trade and make money.

[@freemanol]

Forcing others to trade at gunpoint. Imagine if the chinese do that sometime in the future

[@drpepper3838]

@@freemanol we didn't force them, like stated above we did them a favor, and the fact that we weren't pushy with religion granted us exclusive rights. We even helped them with certain water projects and building train stations etc.

[@oworandom]

@@drpepper3838 you can also mention of flow of the western knowledge as the indystrial revolution started

[@Jay-qb9gi]

@@freemanol sounds like a future unwinnable war for the Chinese

[@edra2005]

@@drpepper3838 still screwed over Japan in the long run by pushing them closer to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy

[@memazov6601]

Japan is getting older and workers are living in horrible conditions such as 50 to 100 hour work days with no overtime because of the older generation putting stress on the younger generation

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

They need more immigrants.

[@reeces.pieces3]

Damn Japan invented 50 hour work days?

[@occam7382]

@@reeces.pieces3, I think he means work weeks, that's probably just a typo.

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

@The Philosoraptor Most of East Asia has that problem. Japan, China, South Korea, etc.

[@Golmar_227]

@@Homer-OJ-Simpson thats easy to say from westerners POV but taking in immigration is not as easy to put in action, since East Asian nations including Japan is very monoethnic, suddenly taking in immigrants will definitely trigger opposition from local Japansese population. For example look how the Japanese society discriminated Zanichi Koreans, since Zanichi Koreans had no place for employment due to racial discrimination, only area of employment it was available to them was such as Pachinko (gambling) and criminal activity, although nowdays it got better but some extend of discrimination still exists.

[@mildlydispleased3221]

I will now only refer to the Great Depression as "The Big Time Sad"

[@FirebirdPrince]

Japan is truly something. Pretty much my favorite games are from there, some of my favorite shows, one of my favorite car brands. Their business methods also are a key consideration for business practice. Japan may not be a near superpower anymore but their impact is more than so many great powers countries.

[@kumardickshit1530]

Weeb

[@yololoyo7379]

Yeah now their culture are widely known and love by many across the world

[@blokin5039]

Japan is on decline

[@aoh4905]

Funny u say this now when they are declining in every categories you names except maybe gaming.

[@robzsarmy5471]

@@yololoyo7379 You mean anime and video games ? I dont count that as culture People need to see the real Japan which is beautiful not those weeb beta shit

[@frederickstabell3796]

Good overview, but your analysis misses what in my opinion is the biggest limiter on Japanese growth, and that's the fact that they more or less ran out of living space, and the home islands are severely lacking in key resources that a major modern economy needs, and even the space to increase food. Relying almost entirely on imports from other sovereign nations does not make a superpower, even if trade links have secured a robust economy. Paying for Japan's rapidly aging population is also going to limit their ability to advance into the new technologies needed to keep pushing the economy forward, potentially creating even more foreign reliance on matters such as utilizing ocean resources.

[@purushottam_paramdharma]

well I believe the crazy rise in real estate prices is enough of an indicator for the lack of physical living space.

[@juliakaurbhullar1796]

Japan could be, but since USA will not allow it to be a superpower, it will not have chance

[@Andrew-bl8eq]

Will the same happen to China?

[@buzter8135]

@@Andrew-bl8eq Yes, it is the goal of a great power to suppress it's rivals to preserve it's dominance.

[@bocbinsgames6745]

... nothing about the Plaza Accord? And the anti-japanese prejudice in the 1980s in the US as Japan was poised to take them over

[@nathanmerritt1581]

Well good thing that's so cool takeover never happened!

[@shawnjavery]

If your economic situation can be destroyed by something as small as the plaza accords, then you were never really a super power. They are important because the policy had a devastating effect on the Japanease growth, but it was a reversal of a trade relationship being favorable to Japan to one that wasn't. It's a policy change, and its pretty important to look at the situation before. Overall I'd blame the economy's collapse more to do with bad demographics than the plaza accord, with that just being the turning point.

[@Shambles7698]

@@shawnjavery Hye clown the USA treated Japan to sign plaza Accord because they scary of Japan dominant at that time . And they try same trick with china but still china will surpass USA in the future

[@ntokozosibanyoni1421]

@@shawnjavery kf course an American would have a view contrary to WHOLE economists, historians and political scientists when it comes to his country's leadership (not so much as the people but the leadership) being to blamed for catastrophe abroad. Its superpatriotism, a perveted kind of love of country which is displayed by one's unwavering love and devotion dor the state. The latter is no longer there to serve the American people, but is there TO BE SERVED. So by all means plz, keep your fantasy about Japanese economic regression in the 90s whist we deal with reality, ok?

[@Ishikawa745]

The one reason that Japan cant be a superpower despite being 2nd to US back then its because its the US also thats holding them in the neck.

[@hatanokiripres]

you are the 2nd comment saying this thing and the fact is truth is unpopular when for a channel like this which is too much american

[@nelsonchinasamy9857]

For an island country without much natural resources and hundred million or so people, they have done pretty well for themselves. Being world 3 economy is great achievement. There are countries with double their population and all the natural resources that don't come anywhere close. Well done Japan.

[@thegreenscreengeek]

Anyone that says China isn't already a superpower is stuck in 1995

[@jadenhiggins7167]

Ehhh Canada stronger

[@youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwan6687]

how can Japan be a superpower if America controlled their military strength

[@LegendNinja41]

exactly, Japan is a Lapdog and Client state to the Usa.

[@leprawnchannel9405]

No

[@akashbharadwaj02]

@@leprawnchannel9405 yes,Japan is puppet state

[@user-qb6nf9kn2h]

Being a little partner is good ,no need to become a super power,everyone know Japan is bold enough,they actually secretly attack USA while they have war with Soviet Union and war with China kmt,really bold,like they don’t want live anymore

[@hatanokiripres]

finally, someone. This channel is too much american i think and thats why they missed many important things like this to look good. They did not even mention the Plaza accord, very amateur

[@MorrisonProductions]

traditional Japanese interpretations of American soldiers look very similar to some of the animated videos of the Beatles, (especially the frame at 3:14). I wonder if this is where they got the idea from.

[@fryhyh]

this video will blow up. it doesnt deserve to only have 2k views

[@philswiftreligioussect9619]

The Japanese did not surrender to the atomic bombs. It was the swift Soviet invasion of Manchuria that made Hirohito finally realize that they could not win the war.

[@TheMormonPower]

The 2 atomic bombs dropped, were actually quite small, and very small considering the destruction of fire bombing. I think the idea of " Oh shit, the Soviet Bear is coming" is what actually scared the Japanese. They knew the Soviets would be far more brutal than the Americans if the got control of their country, than the Americans. The Japanese saw what the Russians did to the German territories they conquered. Any German that could do anything about it, tried in anyway possible to surrender to the Americans, rather than the Russians.. the Japanese saw the writing on the wall, and said, we don't want anything to do with Russia. Could you only imagine what modern day Japan would look like today, if the Russians conquered it, and administered it, instead of the Americans...The Japanese wanted no part of that, so when they saw the Russians heading there way, they wisely gave up to the Americans. I think, two rather small and inconsequential bombs, had very little if anything to do with it.

[@Marc-.]

Yea the two a-bombs are more like a show of power to scare off the Soviets

[@Sneikki]

The part of "cultural victory" is actually false. Japanese culture and entertainment is made by japanese people to the japanese people. This is unlike the United States where food, music, movies etc have been made to be sold around the globe. When anime and all other japanese stuff started to become big, it wasn't because the japanese producers wanted this, it is because western audiences found it themselves and started to share it amongst themselves. It's more like comparing fetishizing to cultural imperialism. Japanese culture wasn't meant for others to like because of their pretty heavy xenophobis. American culture on the other hand has been showed down peoples throats for decades. And to be clear, I am not condoning any of these ways. I think people should always enjoy whatever they want, be it some obscure Japanes drama or a high budget Hollywood movie. But I think this difference in mindset is also a big part of why Japan never became the great superpower of the pacific.

[@zeroyuki92]

While your statement is true to some extent, the situation has been evolving nowadays and both production AND consumption of JP media and entertainment has been influenced heavily by other countries now, including other Asian countries and West. In an alternate world where Xi Jinping never changed the trajectory of China that it took before it (80'-00'ish China), both Japan and China would work much closer to gain superiority in cultural expansion. Sadly, that is not the world that we live in and while we can see that China has the human + industrial resources potential and collaborated with Japan in creative industry to some extent, it is just a mere shadow of what a full potential collaboration between them.

[@unconscious1076]

im sure you are unknown about soft power stuffs A country cant be consider a superpower without this Japan still today is a superpower in this even ahead of countries like china or germany

[@oscheoroset1298]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't what he means by saying culture victory is that Japanese culture successfully spread around the world and more people know them? Like South Korea with their K-pop or Italy with their pizza and spaghetti? While what you say is true, it doesn't change the fact that Japanese culture, along with some others I mentioned before, is known everywhere around the world, and for me, that is definitely the sign of cultural victory, because its main goal is spread your culture around the world and make people learn about your culture, to whichever method you want.

[@maxobakso123]

not really. please research the ‘cool japan initiative’.

[@JonathanAuburn]

Whether their intent is to spread it worldwide is irrelevant. The important aspect is that the culture is capable of producing extremely high-quality material, whether it be in art, entertainment, food, music, games, etc. On that last example, it's well-documented that Japan pretty much singlehandedly saved the video game industry after the crash of 1983. Not to mention the sheer amount of beloved franchises and characters that come from Japan today. Every culture is capable of making beautiful things. It's just much more common to see an item from Japanese culture have the sort of polish that puts it above another and leaves an impact on the individual that consumes it. That's the trademark of a highly-advanced and easily-spread culture. As another example - listen to a typical DDR song and tell me that Japan hasn't completely mastered the Eurobeat genre of music. Ironic, perhaps, but that's what I mean about polish.

[@FranzSarmiento17]

Amen, Japan would definitely win the cultural victory. Their influence goes waay beyond just anime. It is indeed crazy

[@TheECSH]

strange but interesting that while Korea and China harbor strong animosity toward Japan for the wars, Taiwan on the other hand is one of Japan's best friends alongside the US, despite being Japan's first oversea colony.

[@dimsum9797]

From what I've read, as Taiwan was Japan's first colony the Japanese wanted it to be their "showpiece" colony. As a result, Taiwan was treated fairly well. Keep in mind this is Imperial Japan we're talking about so they were still very brutal but compared to China, Korea, or Southeast Asia, Taiwan was treated pretty well (for Imperial Japan standards).

[@sto1238]

Taiwan was treated much better than Korea was. It was actually run like a proper colony while Korea was run like a military dictatorship

[@feister2869]

Korea hates Japan a lot for the shit they done in ww2. But in recent polls and updates of citizens sayings. They dislike China more than they dislike Japan now.

[@alicedog368]

and also the fact that the PRC is actively threatening it with invasion also pushes it towards the western camp which japan is a part of

[@danshakuimo]

Taiwan didn't experience most of the worst atrocities and was already considered a core territory with prefecture status by the time they were returned to China. Many of the people there spoke Japanese (and the people who grew up during that time still do, I know some personally) and a lot of infrastructure and stuff was developed by Japan in Taiwan. The Taiwanese people were second class citizens but many of them were still able to go Japanese universities, including former Taiwanese president Lee Teng-Hui, who got flack for visiting a controversial shrine in Japan where his brother was honored. And of course, Chiang's white terror and forced Mandarinization angered enough people to make Japan look good and these things come up frequently in Taiwanese politics today. A lot of the Taiwanese independence flags that people make up even feature the wide diamond motif that was used in the old prefectural flag, with Taiwan probably being the country that loves Japan the most of out any country on earth lol. I'm not sure how much this has to do with modern relations, but Chiang established diplomatic relations with Japan after the war, and based on what I understood basically forgave them. He also controversially recruited Japanese officers to help him fight the Communists and I think he was friends with some of them personally. Chiang spent his formative years at a Japanese military academy and spoke the language as well.

[@drewdederer8965]

Calling the Meiji "restoration" as something lead by the emperor is pretty off. It was yet another Clan rebellion (centered around the Satsuma and Choshu, two clans that were out of favor and had much to gain from trade). The difference was they decided to control the emperor as advisors in the court instead of the usual "bakufu" military dictatorship. Which allowed Japan to transition into a sort of constitutional monarchy (not too different from Prussia, there's a reason they have a "Diet"). Disentangling what was the emperor's "will" as opposed to what was done in his name makes the 1920s and 1930s a real headache to study. Codifying the emperor as "symbol" really wasn't much of a stretch, that's how government had run for 800 years before the "restoration", it just spelled out what was known as fact. Also, tied in with the new constitution was a land-reform act that MADE a LOT of small landholder/farmers. This gave the new government a domestic "democratic" party base. They aren't the most innovative or forward-thinking bunch, but they do act as a counter to corporate interests. The single biggest issue with Japan's economy, is the inability for companies to "die". There were some big risers in the 50s and 60s. (Sony and Honda for 2), but holding off "destruction" is what lead to the "lost decades".

[@zurinarctus1329]

Additionally, the Meiji Restoration mostly modernized Japan's military, not the economy in general. The oligarchies ruled the country, and frequent political violence was omnipresent with successive overthrows of civilian democracy. Most of the country was agrarian, and even French Indochina or British India had the first electrical lighting across their colonies along with higher GDP per capita. Japan's Yen was weak and worthless for many years until after 1945. Japan also suffered shortages in resources and had to accrue many debts for military modernization and economic survival. Technically, Japan had a very powerful army that barely functioned without a steady injection of resources. Of course, there were a lot of debts in building this military. Japan almost went bankrupt after fighting Russia in 1905, and the people barely enjoyed any benefit as Japan couldn't ask for any concession from Russia. People overlooked this aspect of Japanese history because there had been major propaganda efforts from post-war Japan and the CIA to clean up the fascist legacies of Japan as well as the Anglo-American involvement in propping up Japan to control Asia and balance out against China-Russia (in the 19th century speaking).

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

All I understand about the Emperor of Japan is that historically it's not a very well respected office since 1185 as the Japanese Government has had a history of replacing him for someone else who is innocuous...

[@drewdederer8965]

@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 Wasn't all that respected for 200 years before that (that's just when the Shogunate started). Before then it was rival groups marrying their daughters to the emperor and filling out the court. In China, everyone fought to BE the emperor. In Japan, you fought to rule in the NAME of the Emperor (who theoretically traces his ancestry to the divine). The divine part could be very taken very seriously of pretty notionally, depending on the era. (The famous "Tale of Genji" suggests that there might be a bastard in that line, and no harm came to the writer.)

[@cooper1819]

As Japan was becoming economically powerful and poise to takeover USA as No. One, Japan was heavily targeted with calls for dumping, calls to open up markets, restrictions, tariffs and had to sign Plaza Accord to " correct trade balance". This paved the way for Japan's "Lost Decade" of sluggish growth and deflation. And after this lesson, Japan continue to grow the economy outside of Japan, developing in South East Asia, USA etc to avoid being target again. Now could see similar China being targeted when having potential to overtake USA as economic superpower.

[@johnsmith-cw3wo]

you can't be a superpower when you lick the boot of the other superpower... China is not doing that, also is much bigger... Japan depended 40% on US back in the day (and 40%-50% to US lapdogs, like EU, so america controlled 90% of Japan's trade), for now, China depend only 16% on US. (and max. 20-30% to american lapdogs) way less vulnerable to a Plaza Accord style move.

[@user-fu1yt7vb8h]

We tried once, our neighbors didn’t enjoy it and we got two bit surprises

[@rohanagarwal6848]

We have many Japanese youtubers in India who speak hindi so perfectly that sometime they can ashame a local hindi speaking guy . Japanese people are accepting of other cultures and so much peaceful people i really like them and of course i have grown up watching Japanese cartoons like doremon , schinchan ,Pokemon etc .

[@morzik12345]

Imagine asking a track star why he never went pro after blowing out his knee caps

[@PakBallandSami]

Korea, China and East Asia: so your going to apologize know right Japan: for what? i did nothing wrong USA: yeah i agree

[@nathanmerritt1581]

USA: NO WE DON'T!

[@SnghoHan]

fk

[@user-pn3im5sm7k]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan

[@leonardoleo5740]

Japan is right. They civilised Korea and bring them to civilisation.

[@_unknown_3353]

@@leonardoleo5740 wow, people still take this 'civilising' crap seriously?

[@hungariancountryball2928]

Amazing!

[@Hollywood2021]

I’ve admired Japan since I was a kid, having grown playing Nintendo in the 80’s. I’m surprised you didn’t mention Mario, Luigi, or Bowser! 🐲

[@chlorutiz1055]

He mentioned "cultural influence" which includes Japanese video games.

[@maestro-zq8gu]

I would love to visit Japan some day. I love the food and culture. Not sure I'll ever make it though as I'm fairly poor. -Regards from USA

[@mingtran7932]

If you are non white US citizen then forget it

[@riki4644]

Yen is up to 130 to a dollar from only 110-117 something like that

[@ZEKESasaMo]

Japan cannot be super power, but I hope it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

[@MinecraftMasterNo1]

Grow? Have you looked at their demographics? They'll be lucky if they don't have an economic collapse within the century.

[@francousmiani1234]

With such a closed policy toward everything foreign and ageing population, they will be lucky if they don't become "Japazuela".

[@francousmiani1234]

*including foreign expats. Expats can also get used to it's rules, and Japan's killing of asylum seekers is outrageous, and also the well known:"KAROSHI".

[@redrockbro3679]

@@francousmiani1234 That statement exactly. They would be lucky to be stable. *Very* lucky

[@supanthabiswas5033]

@@MinecraftMasterNo1 why would it matter anyways,they will make it up for it by allowing more immigration and using more technology

[@saaaaaaaaaaaaaa121]

forgot to mention the plaza accord's affect on the yen and japan's fiscal policy in general.

[@crak6776]

Yeah, WTF? Maybe people might connect the dots as to why China is being treated the way it is in the US media and government.

[@classictoby5309]

I had actually wondered about this for a long time, excellent video as always!

[@svyatoslav4289]

As usual for Khanubis, this video starts only after first half of the video

[@stc2828]

To save your time. 2 big reasons that are interrelated: 1, Too few people. They tried to fix this by colonizing others like Britain did, but failed. 2, China is too larger for Japan to become dominant unless Japan can successfully colonize a few countries.

[@Halcon_Sierreno]

The Americans came from the east to Japan but they're still referred to as "Westerners". 😂😂😂

[@yosafatcarlsen9955]

Wait, the video is released a minute ago, yet there are comments from yesterday?

[@KhAnubis]

I release it early for patrons

[@JonathanAuburn]

Thank you. The moment I saw the title of this video, I was going to say "Now hang on just a minute! Japan not a superpower? Nonsense!! Of course Japan is a superpower - a _cultural_ superpower." You were way ahead of me on that one.

[@billnotice9957]

Very well done! Explained perfectly. I remember when their was a great fear Japan would buy out the USA. Japan and the USA are a great example of two Nations who do not understand each other at all, yet are somehow good friends.

[@andrewzhang985]

They are "good friends" purely out of political reasons. They want to contain China and partially Russia.

[@billnotice9957]

@@andrewzhang985 one does not exclude the other.

[@512TheWolf512]

Times changed, I believe Japan is very right for a rearmament and a constitutional amendment

[@ggidd4322]

Please, its overdue. If there is one major political change I want to see in the world in my lifetime it is the amendment of article 9 and the expulsion of US troops

[@aesyamazeli8804]

They are already armed, they have excellent navy. There's just no where to use them.

[@ahdhwjdue8362]

They're on track they've activated their first marine unit quite a good while ago.

[@duycuongnguyen6300]

8:11 that particularist rebels lmao. Let the rebel win and you may get a ruler with better stats. The rebel sound effect give me PTSD from my 200% overextention eu4 campaign though. I instinctively press space to pause when i hear that.

[@digitalhermit8928]

For anyone interested in the Pacific Theatre of WW2, I can recommend Dan Carlin's series Supernova in the East. It's absolutely harrowing listening at some points, but I highly recommend it

[@Hession0Drasha]

You missed the islands north of hokkaido that were ainu then japanese. Then expanded to all of them and sakhalin after the russian war.

[@geilerguerbis1511]

KhAnubis seems to be an EU4 enjoyer, nice.

[@defaultmesh]

2:46 ayyyy ayyyyy you can't just skip past that

[@hydroxide809]

Damn, wish I had this video 4 months ago. Had to write a paper on this and it was due on the day this video was released.

[@ssssaa2]

They failed to become the most powerful country on earth because the European countries got a head start, and by the time Japan could make up the difference and surpass them, which it did succeed at, the US was already firmly established and immense in scale, beyond Japan or any other non-continental sized countries ability to compete with. It was doomed to 2nd place at best status. It certainly may have gone on to dominate all east and southeast asia if it weren't for the US, so in another world who knows how powerful Japan could have become. They were very hardcore as well, intending to spread the Japanese, language, ideals, and people across the region outside of the home islands, similar to how the English expanded into North America.

[@sahar3820]

Militarily they didn't become a super power in the world like the US but economically and culturally, they did succeed becoming a super power.

[@harrisonpugh3531]

they aren’t a economic superpower

[@xhradioli]

Japan actually tried that 80 years ago and the world saw what they had committed. Better never let them get any chance to commit such appalling atrocities to human race any more.

[@xmaverickhunterkx]

Makes me sad, but the only reason Japan and others (like Germany) will never reach full potential is simply because the US doesn't want it to happen.

[@andresbella659]

Thank God I’m not the only one who thinks the same. I think the US is afraid of how powerful they can be and not having influence on them.. because THEY DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL..

[@alukuhito]

Get real. The USA doesn't control the world, as much as people would like to think so. All countries are interdependent. You could also argue that Japan would never been as successful as it is without the help of the USA. Remember that after WW2, the USA stuck around to rebuild the country, and to this day still protect Japan with their military. Japan would have a very different story if that wasn't the case.

[@edgynuke5007]

@@alukuhito the us does control the world lol. Most countries don’t do thing without the us approval

[@alukuhito]

@@edgynuke5007 LOL. No, it doesn't.

[@edgynuke5007]

@@alukuhito yeah they do. Take NATO or the EU, they basically kiss the US ass because they need the us for everything.

[@David-qp9bq]

Because of nuclear bomba. Japan is a superpower in its own right right now if you ask me.

[@steviechubbs5238]

They work mainly off of soft power though, they barely have a military to back up anything they say

[@ggidd4322]

@@steviechubbs5238 false, Japan has a capable and powerful military

[@steviechubbs5238]

@@ggidd4322 if that was true, everyone would be talking about the Japanese military, but the topic is nonexistent on the world stage. The country who cannot legally declare war according to their own constitution is not going to be feared by anyone, Switzerland is more of a threat

[@ggidd4322]

@@steviechubbs5238 the way the constitution is set up currently, Japan's neighbours do not need to fear being attacked or invaded by Japan. However Japan has a modern and extensive military including many diesel electric subs and destroyers and now a helicopter destroyer to aircraft carrier conversion, the Izumo, which will operate F-35's. These and other assets will make would be aggressors think twice about confronting Japan. There is currently an ongoing debate about whether Japan should acquire first strike missile capabilities in the name of self defence. Ultimately I think Japan will amend their constitution and rearm. Over two thirds of the current lower house support constitutional amendment.

[@Ionel714]

12:40 yeah you have to keep in mind that no country can really grow that fast If your country can starts growing at an insane speed you should prepare for an eventual collapse rather then the further investing witch will most likely create bubbles

[@scnojohnson9645]

You failed to mention the plaza accords

[@garryslater3834]

Japan did not strategically use the international talent. While USA introduced a genius quota and filled the country with great aspiring minds from around the world. Japan is less diverse which might have limited the scope of their growth.

[@rrron]

It was a good brief history of Japan, but with a title like that I was expecting more about the post-war constitution, the Plaza Accord and globalization which can be blamed for Japan's relative weakness today

[@hwasiaqhan8923]

Japan lacks the resources and lands to develop itself to become self sufficient, that’s why they sought to expand in to mainland east Asia by annexing Korea, China and the rest of south east Asia by creating a self sufficient empire relying less on foreign powers for strategic resources that would hinder their military expansion and capability.

[@JK-gu3tl]

They could've just went for trade instead of war.

[@hwasiaqhan8923]

@@JK-gu3tl That doesn’t create a self sufficient economy. China was reforming its military and building its industry, Japan saw China as its former self during the Meiji reformation, China was a much bigger country in terms of resources, population and land size, in other words China would easily outgun and outproduce the Japanese given enough time, allowing China to become fully industrialised would not only mean Japan won’t remain the top dog of east Asia but also certain future Chinese demand on its lost territories Tsingtao, Taiwan and manchuria.

[@ju98sy]

try that again they will be nuked for the 3rd time

[@Marc-.]

@@JK-gu3tl That’s like the worst option compare to expansion, look at how they suck up to America, it’s over

[@aidan5790]

0:32 best part

[@denniswnzumak7933]

Did you put in the sound of an eu4 uprising? Im playing it rn and this srsly confused me haha

[@keqing311]

Damn when the whole of asia fear you 80 years ago but now when u hear the country name the one thing that always been associated with you ANIME

[@allisterbernal5954]

They didn't become a superpower because they didn't have control over the Founding Titan.

[@AridChannelOfficialSG]

2:42 sneaky cars reference

[@RamithGopinath1398]

I think this video does a great job of explaining how Japan grew in stature prior to the war, and how it's post-war economic miracle propelled it to being the second largest economy in the world. However when talking about the decline of Japanese economy, I believe some key points have been left out. Chief among them is the impact of the Plaza Accord. The Plaza Accord was a 1985 agreement among the G-5 nations-France, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan-to manipulate exchange rates by depreciating the U.S. dollar relative to the Japanese yen and the German Deutsche mark. While the Plaza Accord solidified Japan’s presence as a major player in the international market, an unintended consequence of the Accord, however, was that a rising yen may also have contributed to recessionary pressures for Japan’s economy. The strong yen led to a major short-term shock to Japanese export-based industries. To offset the effects of this shock, the Japanese government embarked on a massive campaign of expansionary monetary and fiscal policy in a bid to boost the domestic economy. This massive macroeconomic stimulus, in combination with other policies, created equally massive credit and asset price bubbles in Japan's financial and real estate markets through the late 1980s. When this bubble burst, Japan experienced a prolonged period of low growth and deflation, lasting through the 1990s and 2000s. Thus, the Plaza Accord helped propagate the “Lost Decade” in Japan. Source - www.investopedia.com/terms/p/plaza-accord.asp

[@hatanokiripres]

finally, someone. This channel is too much american i think and thats why they missed many important things like this to look good. They did not even mention the Plaza accord, very amateur id say

[@yl003760]

Japan lacks independent foreign, military and geopolitical strategy, which prevents it from threatening the superpower status of US.

[@rustix3]

So the answer to the question in the video title is at 12:56 tldr 'because of real estate and stock market bubble'

[@imsonicnoob2112]

3:58 Is it me? Or does that style similar to countryballs looks cool?

[@yiannicart]

Daddy KhAnubis at it again

[@Heynmffc]

This video came out 2 seconds ago 👀 how..?

[@yiannicart]

@@Heynmffc Patreon my dear friend, if you can't wait like me and have a few extra dollars a month it's worth supporting the channel to get that content earlier :)

[@truthbetold5460]

Japan’s land area is small plus they’re being hit by natural disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes … despite all these I always have high regard of the japanese people.

[@yourcj5734]

Japan is not small compared to European countries

[@handelbarrett7662]

Japan recovery from a recked nation to an economic juggernaut is an insparation. I wish nigeria, ghana and angola could of followed japan's footsteps but of course the mentality of the people plays a big part.

[@Raul_Menendez]

Imperial Japan: *Warcimes, Nangking and Unit 731* Nazi Germany: Whoa, calm down. I know we're doing evil stuff but not THAT evil.

[@FIVEBASKET]

Thank God Japan didn't become a super power

[@TheNinjaDC]

They lack the land, resources, and population to be a super power. England (a comparable isolated island state) had similar restraints, but made up for it with colonization & trade. Japan really only tried colonization efforts twice, but both efforts failed. TLDR: America & 16th Century Korea: "What can we say except. *You're welcome.* "

[@joshbentley2307]

England/U.K. became a superpower because it was the first to industrialise, meaning they made food, weapons, transportation etc far more efficiently than anyone else. So even tho they were small they could out produce any country in the world. Which then meant that it was powerful enough to control colonies to get more resources and a larger population.

[@XXXTENTAClON227]

@@joshbentley2307 also being an island, hence putting more emphasis on Navy thus being safe from the European continent. Spain, as a “superpower”, failed 4 separate times to invade England let alone conquer it. That wasn’t because Spain were weak, but simple geography; you can only come one way and England will see you coming. Hence why each time they united, they became stronger and stronger, from England, to Great Britain, to the United Kingdom. No internal conflict means the world is your oyster

[@madscientist602]

love the videos, but the rotating maps makes me dizzy

[@KhAnubis]

Ah okay fair. I’m trying to figure out better, more engaging visuals to put up in the future

[@malkavil]

Something that's not mentioned is why the zaibatsu raised again. I'm no historian but i've heard it was the Korean war, Marshal wanted japan to be an agrarian country, but then the korean war happened and industry was raised again in japan to support US millitary in the korean war effort.

[@jhonklan3794]

Japan has the 3rd largest economy by a fairly wide margin, and has enormous cultural influence as you mentioned. I think the main reason it isn't a world power is because the Japanese don't want it to be one, and generally aren't very involved in foreign politics. The German economy is 1.2 trillion USD smaller GDP than Japanese economy, but Germany has much greater influence because it is the leader of a larger EU coalition. Its influence over foreign nations is what grants it a world power status. Similarly, Russia has a large amount of influence over countries in its region, so despite its relatively small economy, it has superpower status. If Japan assembled a coalition of other nations (eg. ASEAN nations), then it could be a world power.

[@galihpambudiarto3008]

Well, japan is superpower in Anime Culture.

[@hmontalvo90]

15 mins when all you could have said was Anime happened. Japan went from we bug sumo macho fearsome man to Onee Chan

[@JonatasAdoM]

And this is how you do an ad, at the of a good video. Not at the start and certainly not in the middle of the video.

[@PakBallandSami]

japan could have become it and at a time it was batter in every way and it use that to make it own empire but japan decided to eat more then it can chew and attacked the US and then the rest is history but it still kinda is a power full country in east asia but it influence is not much because of china

[@feister2869]

Ig. But it does influence much of their globe with their media and culture. Even more so than China. Let me give an example, how much Chinese shows or media do you or your relatives frequently watch, I would assume its little but it is the complete opposite for jp media.

[@nateriveer_8590]

@@feister2869 China remains far more influential than Japan

[@edgynuke5007]

@@feister2869 how many products do you buy that are made in China ? Case won

[@limcheating1]

that's why Japan repeatedly invade Korea and China, it is the only way for Japan to become a superpower

[@feister2869]

@@edgynuke5007 how much Chinese media is being consumed here? Tell me how much media like fucking anime, video games, cars and most important industries are made in Japan?

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

I say give it time their economic capabilities I believe still have room to grow

[@thiccymouse2299]

Not until the old die out and by that point the pop would be so small it wouldn't really be possible

[@Disorder2312]

They won the appreciation of people all around the world because of their cool culture. I'm sure this plays a big part why are they successful.

[@yorka274]

Yes this has significantly increased their soft power

[@blokin5039]

Japanese culture is depressing as hell, hot nothing to do with what you see in their anime..

[@gavinmcdermott1004]

‘Big time sad’ best phrasing

[@alccode_]

Hmm, no mention of the Plaza Accord? In 1985, a very worried US (+G5 members) fearful of exactly a newly forming Japanese world superpower, *forced* Japan to appreciate the yen by a whopping 46% against the dollar, directly causing the economic bubble that eventually crashed the Japanese economy. Although the US probably did not intend for things to go that far, their move was a stroke of genius amounting to wildly successful economic sabotage. It wasn't the only link in the chain, of course, but it definitely set the ball in motion, as the Japanese export market and GDP growth completely stalled after that, leading the authorities to issue massive macroeconomic stimulus which then led to the rapid rise in real estate prices and credit growth. Failing to mention this key piece of history shrouds the very reason of the economic bubble in mystery. The reasons in the video are not enough. For example, Japan didn't need to invest in a military? But average military spending by country's % of GDP are nearly all in the low single digits, or fractions of 1%. Furthermore, other countries with growing economies did not witness such a bubble for precisely the reason that their currencies weren't forced to appreciate in value. This staggering blind spot in American historiography (at least amongst the lay public) of this aspect of the US's role in Japan's historical woes ranks almost as highly as the hubris that the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were "necessary" to end the war - when, in fact, we now know that US military intelligence was keenly aware that Imperial Japan had ran out of oil and was going to surrender anyway, but Truman and the US military rushed to use an atomic bomb before then simply in order to demonstrate US power to Stalin and thus scare off Soviet USSR which was, at the time, rapidly encroaching onto Western Europe (and would have expanded into northern Japan), hence striking the first blow in the subsequent US-USSR Cold War, even before the end of WW2.

[@BasicLib]

To those who claim the PRC is a superpower… I would respectfully like to make the argument as to why that isn’t the case based on the understanding of comparative geopolitics that show that the gap in capability between the US and China simply doesn’t reflect this (China being a Superpower). The USSR comparatively was for more powerful and influential than the PRC is in a way that is not even comparable. It’s literal client states across 5 continents and central role in geopolitical affairs allowing it the strategic flexibility to operate in any region of the world (the actual definition of a superpower and not just “strong country”) This China is not When you compare that to the US then that has 500,000 troops spread out across five continents has about 56 client states and counting Is head of most most international institutions And is in a grand alliance political, diplomatic and military with 16 of the top 20 largest economies and militaries in the world Calling China a superpower is simply devoid from reality currently (could easily change). One can easily say China is the greatest of all great power no doubt and a potential superpower. Perhaps even claim they are potentially the most powerful single state on earth But they are very much not a superpower regardless of how large they have grown their economy simply because they can’t project that power. And THAT more than anything else is the measure of a superpower. This is why despite the US probably being the most powerful state in earth since the 1920s, it wasn’t really a superpower until 1945. One on one, the US and China a matched. But the fact that the US is NEVER one on one is precisely why it’s a superpower like the USSR was back in the Cold War and China is not. No hate on China, I am not American or even western but I just needed to explain why this often stated claim is widely understood to be false, atleast for now. Take a look to understand what I’m talking about in terms of official terminology of what makes a superpower and you are free to do further reading as well. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superpower

[@shinsenshogun900]

While China could try to attempt a bid for a dominant hegemony in their periphery, this superpower is clearly no match for a hyperpower that is the US and it’s subtle intricate of genuine, albeit flawed, systems of its own sphere of global influence and combined power

[@vixinitydbz]

Facts

[@Pein061]

In terms of super power, the u.s have friends and allies all over the globe, when i say allies it mean allies form military alliance. China don’t have that power, in fact China have wide image of a hungry territorial dispute with its neighbors. Just ask japan, korea and sea nations. And don’t you believe in wumao Chinese propagandist here on youtube how great china relations with its neighbors. Its not, i come from one of the east Asia nations and we don’t like china at all. Imagine how bad relations between the u.s with Canada and Mexico could damage u.s grand strategy. Yep, China are like that, they relations with other nations are bad, the only reason why people still stick around china because of money. China have no friends except Pakistan, other “friends” of them only there for their money. And when China in trouble their “friends” will be all long gone.

[@ohlangeni]

I agree with all you said. But why referrence Wikipedia as a source. It is mighty biase and pro-Europe, pro-West and American centric.

[@Rytoast99]

Whats this? A well informed and intelligent youtube comment? Must be a bot

[@niclassemmerow6401]

Whatever that Joji guy next to McArthur had in his tea - it had to be pretty good by the looks of it 👌🏼

[@yuzuki7531]

It’s currently the 3 largest economy in the world. 🎌

[@zodiacstarlegues]

I think the biggest problem is that Japan started too late. Maybe if Japan started colonization instead of isolation, it could be more powerful.

[@widodoakrom3938]

Japan lose against korean admiral yin sun sin in late 16th century that's why Japan never started colonization if they won at that time Japan can started colonization

[@haruyanto8085]

Literally any country would've

[@muhamadrizal4]

If japan stay chill during ww2, they could have kept manchuria and pacific island

[@feister2869]

@@muhamadrizal4 no, that wouldn’t happen. The Soviet Union were interested in those lands and Japan would have been readying to fight with the soviets if they didn’t go for the west and south. Also wouldn’t communist China want manchuko back? That would bring the Soviet Union in on it anyways.

[@muhamadrizal4]

@@feister2869 ccp wouldn't win against kmt if japan didnt attack china. Also, if japan didnt attack china, they might be supporting kmt, against common communist enemy, if kmt win with japanese support, they wouldnt want manchukuo back right?

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

“Super power”. USSR was a super power but much poorer than Japan. Japan had little interest In being a military or geopolitical leader so that’s why it didn’t become a super power.

[@juniijanaka1120]

Yeah gg

[@jasondyrkacz8270]

That's the case now. Before WW2, Japan was actually close to being a superpower.

[@youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwan6687]

at some point. Japan is the second largest economy while “a superpower” ranked third

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

@@jasondyrkacz8270 that I agree. But since ww2, they have wanted nothing to do with it. Their interest has been almost purely domestic and not about projecting military or geopolitical power like the much poorer USSR or China today.

[@ulaalu4356]

@@jasondyrkacz8270 No really close, you underestimate how far were the most industrialize countries of Europe. In ww2 Japan forces were having problems taking colonies of countries with were having a destructive war far away in Europe and couldn't defeat the republic of China, a state which were in Civil war pretty much from the 1850.

[@tomfrazier1103]

The Dai Nippon Brewery Co. Ltd. Was broken up, Sapporo brewery among others emerged.

[@vitojosie]

Japan never wanted to be a superpower. They simply wanted to survive.

[@---iv5gj]

this video completely ignored the fact that the lost decade was entirely caused directly by the plaza accord, which resulted in the economic bubble mentionedin the video. in place of japan, korea rose to the world stage in at the same time. auto manufacturing, shio building, electronics investments all went to korea instead. the yen was allowed to rise in value which was disastrous for its export competitiveness

[@wecare838]

Should have talked about the "plaza accord and its downstream consequences".

[@milky_quartz]

0:48 Sana Momo Mina's impact! 😍

[@Butter_Warrior99]

Imagine if Japan did become a Super Power.

[@phm904]

Japan would become a worthy rival of China. Japan today is literally a gas station for the US military.

[@user-bb2ln1ys9t]

@The Philosoraptor lol anime is out of this, dont include anime into reality, if japan will become superpower, they will dominate the world, even they are keep torturing, raping, massacre, their being warcriminals, do u think u can brag anime in reality? C'mon were talking abt freedom and democracy

[@user-bb2ln1ys9t]

@The Philosoraptor making fun of Japanese Imperial is no joke ever in history, its not really joke, what if u were in a series of war, them japanese murder your family, what u gonna do? forgive them? and watch anime instead of paying them from their sins and justice for your family? I can't imagine how people forgot their atrocities

[@stc2828]

@The Philosoraptor 🇺🇦 Anime already dominates younger generations of the world. But overall a "Superpower" with just 100M population is laughable.

[@DARamMz]

@@user-bb2ln1ys9t it's war, what would you expect? Besides it occurred decades ago, life was different back then. I say 1000 years ago your ancestors murdered my ancestors so I want a satisfying revenge, who's gonna pay the price? You? Your family?