Japan: A brief history

Japan: A brief history 

Because the southwest end of Japan is closest to the Asian continent, Japanese new people and new events usually emerged from that area first, or from Kyushu (九州）first. Because Honshu (本州）is much larger, Honshu area has become the dominant part over time. Inside Honshu, power also flows from South to North, which is equivalent to from West to East. Initially, West of the Pass (关西）, where Kyoto located, was dominant. But East of the Pass (关东), where Tokyo located, has much larger plain and hence has much higher carrying capacity. Overtime, it evolved into the economic and political center. 

We will discuss how Kyoto and Tokyo later become the political center of Japan. When we climb up high in Kyoto (京都）, which means capital, we will notice Kyoto is surrounded by mountains from the East, North, and West. South is flat and open. From Fengshui, this is the classic spot for capital. Practically, it is surrounded mostly by mountains. This greatly reduces the cost of defense. The flat south makes it easy to receive food supplies, which is usually abundant from the warm south. Specifically, it is easy to get food supplies from the Osaka area through Yodo River. That’s why Kyoto became the long term capital of Japan, from 794 to 1868. 

East of the Pass (关东) plain is the largest plain in Japan. Overtime, its economic potential, and hence military and political potential, gradually materialized. Near the end of the War Period, at the end of the sixteenth century, Tokugawa clan was transferred to Edo area, (today’s Tokyo) for the clan was too powerful. The transfer made the Tokugawa clan far away from the center of power. But Tokugawa got to control the largest plan in Japan. At that time, Edo area was flooded by too much water. Tokugawa rerouted Tone River further north. This reduced the water flow to Edo area and turned it into fertile agricultural land. The increase of agricultural output, together with Togugawa’s political savvy, helped make Togugawa clan the most powerful warlord of the day. In 1600, his army crushed the army of his boss. He became the new Shogun. His family ruled Japan until 1868, the year of Meiji Restoration.

After Meiji Restoration, the emperor moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ( 东京 or Eastern Capital). Tokyo has been the Japanese capital since. 

Japanese history, like the history of many other areas, was deeply influenced by the emergence of firearms in Europe. Before 1600, the introduction of firearms into Japan by European merchants greatly accelerated the pace and cost of warfare, speeding up the unification of Japan under a central authority. After Tokugawa Shogunate unified the country, firearms were banned, to lowered the cost of control. The Shogunate lasted for over two and a half centuries. Then a US gunboat forced open Japan. Facing European superior weapons, Japan had no choice but to modernize if it wanted to survive. Otherwise, Japan, as well as Korea and large part of China, would have become part of Russia long ago. 

But modernization is costly. With high fixed cost investment, you need a large market size to break even. In other words, a modernized society，especially a small country, needs to expand. Just imagine Portugal, Spain, England, France , US, or Russia. Japan was no exception. The modernization of Japan, a late comer,  quickly led to territorial expansion, clashing with Russia, (and later Soviet Union), Korea, China, US, Britain, France and other powers. Ultimately, Japan was decimated in World War Two. 

Post war, Japan tried to develop economy without military backup. It never worked in history. Japan was no exception. Quickly US forced Japan to voluntarily reduce the size of its exports. You spend tremendous resources to develop a product, only voluntarily selling a small quantity. Imagine Microsoft only sells one million copies of Windows, or Google only accepts one million search requests a day. Yet without military and political power, Japan had to voluntarily accept such an outcome.

Today Japan is a country with far below replacement fertility. It is a country in silent but inevitable decline.