Japan - Then vs now

Prison in Seoul (Keijo) during Japanese occupation (1910)

Japan during that time was driven by the Meiji government. This government was pushed to want more economic and military power. It is multifaceted in a way that Japan, during that time, underwent a process of rapid modernization, which was influenced by the West. With this western influence Japan wanted to increase its power not only nationally, but also internationally and they decided to colonialize surrounding countries. The invasion of Korea and the colonization of Taiwan are very exemplary for this focus of expansion.

Since then, Japan has tried to acknowledge and address its past mistakes in diverse ways. Japan has, as an example, apologized to individuals and countries and has payed remedies to each of them. Japan also has built many different museums and memorials to honor the victims and to document the mistakes that they took during this time.

However, Japan's relationship with its past during this period has also been a source of controversy and debate. Some people think that Japan was overapolagetic and some have criticized Japan for not having done enough to remedy its past, mostly regarding the issues such as sexual slavery or forced labor during this period.

It is obvious that Japan still grapples with the time from 1868 to 1912 and ongoingly thinks about their actions during this time.

All sources can be found here.

-ek