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Bundle 116: Late Meiji and Taisho Eras: Militarism and Imperialism Surge

Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) prompted Japanese militarism and imperialism to surge in the late Meiji and Taisho eras (1905–1924, collectively). As this bundle shows, Japan developed its munitions industry to spectacular new heights and designed battleships that would dwarf those of Britain. (The efforts to build massive battleships inspired words that Japanese advertisers still use!) In those years Japan's economic and political interest in Manchuria also grew, setting the stage for colonizing that territory. And from 1918 to 1922, Japan occupied Siberia, which cost the Japanese dearly in terms of casualties, finances, and internal strife.
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坑
pit
JOK: 1245
Japan is rich in minerals (learn why), and its mines have influenced the nation's history, economy, and activism, from the environmental movement to strikes and unions. Learn what the Yamashita Treasure is, and see how people use "canary in a coal mine." Find out why Ashio Copper Mine is on a par with Minamata and has mattered to Soseki, Haruki Murakami, and Jay Rubin.
拓
clear the way
JOK: 1554
This kanji embodies the spirit of visionaries who see possibilities, people who want to carve out the future, and pioneers who blaze mountain trails, develop land that’s under the sea, and grow olives on Shodoshima. Learn to say, “He devoted half of his life to developing Hokkaido,” “We have to find a new market for these products,” and even “I haven't tried restaurants around here.”
撤
withdraw
JOK: 1630
See how Shigeru Mizuki discussed retreating troops in his manga about the war. Learn the Japanese for retracting words and reversing decisions. Find out what to write when leaving online arguments in Japanese and how to say, “We decided to withdraw from the restaurant business,” “She advocated equal rights for women,” and “The posters were immediately removed from the wall.”
蔑
contempt
JOK: 2107
After reading this essay, you'll know how to do all of this: talk about looking down on others, express contempt, accuse men of sexist thinking, and say that you despise someone. You'll also understand why a famous thinker thought Japan should bid good riddance to the rest of Asia, why the nobles viewed samurai as savages, and how a word for "scorn" relates to a carpentry technique.
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