Japanization
Encyclopedia
Japanization is the process in which Japanese culture dominates, assimilates, or influences other cultures, in general. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
, the word Japanize means To make or become Japanese in form, idiom, style, or character.
Narrowly, Japanization is referred as the "Tennoization" (皇民化; kōminka) during the imperial period
(1868–1945). "Tennoization" is considered as the Japanese version of "Nazification" (Germanization from 1933 to 1945). During the imperial period, Japanese culture was forced into the submission to Tenno
, including colonies and occupied territories.
The essential point of "Japanization", it easily illudes that "Tenno is all of Japan" "Japanization is only the submission to Tenno". However, Japanese culture as understand and see, Japanese culture is not the submission to Tenno, pre-imperial (pre-1868) and post-imperial (post-1945) Japanese cultures do not intend to the submission to Tenno.
in 1868, the Empire of Japan
was founded, Japan began its expansion in Asia and Oceania. Japanization of the imperial period was the "submission to Tenno
", it was also practised in these newly conquered territories with different levels of intensity. It ended by the end of the World War II in 1945.
in 1868, Japan began to follow the way of the western imperialism and expansionism. in 1879, Japan officially annexed the Ryūkyū Kingdom
, which was a tributary kingdom of both the Qing Dynasty
and the Empire of Japan.
Though the Ryukyuan languages belong to the Japonic language family
, the Japanese language is not intelligible to the monolingual speakers of the Ryukyuan languages. The Japanese government began to promote the language "standardization" program and took the Ryukyuan languages as dialects. In schools, "standard" Japanese was promoted, and there were portraits of the Japanese Emperor and Empress were introduced. Many high-ranking Japanese military officers went to inspect Okinawan schools to ensure that the Japanization was functioning well in the education system. This measure did not meet the expected success at the beginning, partly because many local children's share of their heavy family labor impedes their presence in schools, and partly because people of the old Okinawan leading class received a more Chinese-styled education and were not interested in learning "standard" Japanese. As measures of assimilation, the Japanese government also discouraged some local customs.
At the beginning, these assimilation measures met stronger reluctance of local people. But, after China was defeated in the First Sino-Japanese War
in 1895, people lost their confidence in China, and the reluctance against the Japanization, though not disappeared, became weaker. Men and women began to adopt more Japanese-styled names.
. At the beginning, Taiwan was governed rather like a colony. In 1936, followed the arrival of the 17th governor-general, Seizō Kobayashi, there was a change in the Japanese governance in Taiwan.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language is an American dictionary of the English language published by Boston publisher Houghton Mifflin, the first edition of which appeared in 1969...
, the word Japanize means To make or become Japanese in form, idiom, style, or character.
Narrowly, Japanization is referred as the "Tennoization" (皇民化; kōminka) during the imperial period
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
(1868–1945). "Tennoization" is considered as the Japanese version of "Nazification" (Germanization from 1933 to 1945). During the imperial period, Japanese culture was forced into the submission to Tenno
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
, including colonies and occupied territories.
The essential point of "Japanization", it easily illudes that "Tenno is all of Japan" "Japanization is only the submission to Tenno". However, Japanese culture as understand and see, Japanese culture is not the submission to Tenno, pre-imperial (pre-1868) and post-imperial (post-1945) Japanese cultures do not intend to the submission to Tenno.
Pre-1868
During pre-imperial (pre-1868) period a peaceful diplomacy was practiced during which Japan did not expand much in territories beyond its own islands.From 1868 to 1945
By the Meiji RestorationMeiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
in 1868, the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
was founded, Japan began its expansion in Asia and Oceania. Japanization of the imperial period was the "submission to Tenno
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
", it was also practised in these newly conquered territories with different levels of intensity. It ended by the end of the World War II in 1945.
Okinawa
After the Meiji RestorationMeiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
in 1868, Japan began to follow the way of the western imperialism and expansionism. in 1879, Japan officially annexed the Ryūkyū Kingdom
Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
, which was a tributary kingdom of both the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
and the Empire of Japan.
Though the Ryukyuan languages belong to the Japonic language family
Japonic languages
Japonic languages is a term which identifies and characterises the Japanese which is spoken on the main islands of Japan and the Ryukyuan languages spoken in the Ryukyu Islands. This widely accepted linguistics term was coined by Leon Serafim....
, the Japanese language is not intelligible to the monolingual speakers of the Ryukyuan languages. The Japanese government began to promote the language "standardization" program and took the Ryukyuan languages as dialects. In schools, "standard" Japanese was promoted, and there were portraits of the Japanese Emperor and Empress were introduced. Many high-ranking Japanese military officers went to inspect Okinawan schools to ensure that the Japanization was functioning well in the education system. This measure did not meet the expected success at the beginning, partly because many local children's share of their heavy family labor impedes their presence in schools, and partly because people of the old Okinawan leading class received a more Chinese-styled education and were not interested in learning "standard" Japanese. As measures of assimilation, the Japanese government also discouraged some local customs.
At the beginning, these assimilation measures met stronger reluctance of local people. But, after China was defeated in the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
in 1895, people lost their confidence in China, and the reluctance against the Japanization, though not disappeared, became weaker. Men and women began to adopt more Japanese-styled names.
Taiwan
Taiwan was ceded to the Empire of Japan in 1895 as a result of the First Sino-Japanese WarFirst Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
. At the beginning, Taiwan was governed rather like a colony. In 1936, followed the arrival of the 17th governor-general, Seizō Kobayashi, there was a change in the Japanese governance in Taiwan.