The Russo-Japanese War and Japan: Politics, Nationalism and Historical Memory

Abstract

The Russo-Japanese conflict was Japan’s most significant experience of war up until the disaster of 1937–45. It influenced all shades of political thought in Japan, almost certainly having a greater effect than in Russia, where the government committed a far lower proportion of its population to war service, and had to contend with domestic revolutionary movements at the same time. Between 1903 and 1905 the conflict with Russia was an overwhelming issue both for the Japanese government and for many of its opponents; after 1905, the war continued to loom large in the consciousness of those who participated in and commented on national affairs. From the start, the war was inextricably linked with issues of national identity as well as national power. In retrospect, it became an important component of that identity, adding to the store of ‘myths and memories for future generations’ that contribute in the most fundamental way to the building of national consciousness. 1 These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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