by Jenny Chan In the annals of Japanese history, few figures have played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the nation, such as Ito Hirobumi. Born into a modest samurai family in 1841, in what is now Yamaguchi Prefecture, Ito's journey from a young student secretly studying abroad to becoming Japan's first Prime Minister is a testament to both his extraordinary vision and the transformative era of the Meiji Restoration. Ito Hirobumi's monumental contributions to Japan's modernization and how his leadership helped set the stage for Japan to emerge as an empire on the global stage cannot be understated.
1 Comment
by Gabriel Carrillo The term "hell ship" holds a somber place in history, predominantly within the American lexicon. Initially emerging during the American Revolution, the term described the dire conditions aboard ships used by the British to imprison American revolutionaries. These vessels, originally designed for far fewer occupants, were overcrowded with thousands of men, leading to the death of approximately 11,000 patriots.[1]
by Vadym Velychko The M4 Sherman tank, an iconic vehicle of World War II, stands as a testament to American engineering and military strategy. This medium tank was a crucial asset on the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific and a symbol of the Allied forces' determination and resourcefulness. The varied uses of the M4 Sherman tank during World War II highlighted its role in infantry support, combined arms operations, and specialized adaptations that significantly impacted the war's outcome.
by Vadym Velychko World War II, a global conflict that reshaped the world, was not only a testament to human resilience and the quest for freedom but also a crucible for technological and strategic military innovations. Amidst the backdrop of this devastating conflict, the ingenuity of nations was put to the test, leading to the development of weapons that would forever alter the landscape of warfare. This narrative delves into the intricacies of three such innovations: the German Flak 88mm anti-aircraft gun, the V1 Rocket, the first of its kind cruise missile, and the Type 93 flamethrower, a symbol of the ferocity of close-quarters combat. Each of these weapons symbolizes a leap forward in military technology, reflecting the intense pressure of wartime demands and the human capacity for innovation in the face of adversity.
by Ashton Hinsdale Itō Takeo provided a firsthand account of his experiences and observations in Manchuria in his memoir "Life along the South Manchurian Railway: The Memoirs of Itō Takeo,." He later became a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, indicating his significant role within the military and, presumably, his involvement in the Japanese imperial expansion efforts. On top of his military account, he reflected on his youth, his travels, and his experiences with the South Manchurian Railway (SMR), which was instrumental in Japan's colonization and industrialization of Manchuria. by Jenny Chan The Type 97 Chi-Ha was a medium tank developed by the Imperial Japanese Army in the late 1930s, and it played a significant role in Japan's armored warfare strategies during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Its development, operational history, and impact on the battlefield provide a fascinating insight into the evolution of armored warfare in the Asia-Pacific region. by Cole Hittle Saionji Kinmochi was many things: a child-chamberlain to the emperor at the age of three, a playmate to the future emperor not much later, a warrior who fought in the Meiji Restoration, the prime minister of Japan, and the last of the Genro. (Bunji Omura) However, being a Genro is likely Saionji’s most prestigious accomplishment. Genro, or principal elder in English, was a class of oligarchs who were able to act outside the constitution and had leading roles during the Meiji Restoration. The Genro subsequently dominated Japanese politics from 1889 to the early 1930s, when they acted as counselors to the emperor. (Genro | Japanese Oligarchy | Britannica) by Jolin Chan The United States, an ocean away from China, did not simply watch the Opium Wars unfold from afar. Rather, the budding nation had been intertwined in the opium trade long before the conflict. What fuels war—hunger for power, desire for resources, nationalism, to name a few—is important to study, but so is who fuels war. Traders in America, and specifically New England, were instrumental in maintaining and even strengthening the opium trade and war. Yet, the binary between Britain and China often masks American actors’ roles in the conflict. Their lucrative work in China—selling and transporting opium—allowed them to bring wealth back home, allowing cities like Boston to flourish, all while China struggled with addiction, plundered cultural heritage, and the beginnings of unequal treaties and injustice at the hands of foreign powers. by Shen Ramirez, Assistant Researcher and Dr. Stacey Anne Baterina Salinas The Imperial Japanese Army’s (IJA) occupation of the Philippines threatened the lives of ordinary citizens, further limiting their freedoms under a new colonial presence. The guerrilla fighters that resisted Imperial Japan’s occupation came from diverse Philippine communities (ethnolinguistic, class, gender, sexual orientations). Yet, the histories that are promoted and do survive about Philippine resistance to Japanese and American imperialism continue to be limited in scope and representation. After World War II, it was traditionally through a Euro-American lens of the guerrilla resistance such as Wendell Fertig. In the process, this creates a patronizing image of citizens of the Philippines as victims caught between larger geopolitical forces rather than agents of change that fiercely mobilized for their and their country’s independence. by Jolin Chan With over 45 million ethnic Chinese living outside China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, as of 2013, the Chinese diaspora spans the entire globe, reaching every habitable continent[1]. The United States is the country with the largest Chinese population. Still, this statistic does not diminish the influence that the overseas Chinese community has on other countries and regions of the world. The stories, histories, challenges, and successes of Chinese Americans are widely known, but the presence of the Chinese diaspora in other parts of the world—from South America to Australia—should not be ignored. The Chinese-American experience is only one part of the Chinese diasporic experience. As Chinese people were pushed out of their motherland for political and economic reasons during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the stories of these immigrants can thus be found almost everywhere. |