Japan’s First Modern War: Army and Society in the Conflict with China, 1894–95

234 Pages·1994·13.09 MB·English

by  Stewart Lone (auth.)

JAPAN'S FIRST MODERN WAR

Japan's First
Modern War
Army and Society in the
Conflict with China, 1894-95
Stewart Lone
Lectwer in History
University of New South Wales
~~
~ in association with
,.............. Palgrave Macmillan
© Stewart Lone 1994
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1994 978-0-333-55554-5
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ISBN 978-1-349-39031-1 ISBN 978-0-230-38975-5 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9780230389755
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ISBN 978-0-312-12277-5
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lone, Stewart.
Japan's first modet n war: Army and society in the connie! with
China, 1894-95 I Stewart Lone.
p. em.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-312-12277-5
I. Chinese-Japanese War, 1894-1895. 2._japan-Militarv rcbtions
-East Asia. 3. East Asia-'VIilit:ny relations--Japan. I. Tille.
DS765.L66 1994
952.03' l--dc20 'H-162'l2
CIP
Only in war will a nation truly become a nation
Heinrich von Treitschke
Even the most sublime creations of society cany within themselves
the element of their own destruction
Carl von Clausewitz

Contents
Acknowledgements vm
Ablrreviations x
Noles vm
Introduction 1
2 The Origins of War: japan, the Army, and East Asia 12
2 Wartime Strategy and Diplomacy: Questions of Unity 30
3 The Soldier's Experience 51
4 The Home Front: Mobilising Support 78
5 The Home Front: Patriotism, Profit and Loss 102
6 Novice Imperialist: Occupation Policies in Korea
and Manchuria 123
7 Discipline and Control: The Army as Civilisation 142
8 Wartime Strategy and Diplomacy: Closing the War 164
Conclusion 178
Noles 188
Bibliography 213
Index 219
Vll
Acknowledgements
The opportunity to thank those people who have assisted and
mad~ possible a research project may not occur many times in
one lifetime. I take great pleasure, therefore, in listing a number
of individuals who have helped me in one way or another over
the past few years.
Teachers who inspired me to abandon the pursuit of riches
for the dubious pleasures of spending every teaching break
in some library dungeon include those who first taught me
about Japan at Sheffield University, notably Graham Healey
and Ms Mitsuko Sasaki; also Professor Patrick O'Neill, formerly
of SOAS, University of London, whose patience, courtesy, and
understanding were exemplary; and my former supervisors at
the Australian National University, Drs Richard Mason, John
Caiger, and Andrew Fraser. Professor Ian Nish, also of the
University of London, has been most kind and generous in his
comments in more recent times. Professor Marius Jansen of
Princeton University likewise provided encouragement at an
early stage in this project. Professor Peter Dennis, our head
of chambers at University College, Australian Defence Force
Academy, deserves a special mention for unfailing support both
spiritual and from the department's monetary resources.
In Japan, I express grateful thanks to Professor Ito Takashi of
Tokyo University; Dr Tanaka Hiromi of the Japan National
Defence Academy; my old friend Dr Nagai Kazu ofRitsumeikan
University and his wife Mari for repeated kindness over the
years; Mr Koike Seiichi of the Foreign Ministry Archives; and
the staff of the Boei Kenkyujo Library, Tokyo. With outstanding
generosity, the late Mr Kitane Yutaka, former head of the Meiji
Shimbun Zasshi Bunko, University of Tokyo, donated several
years' worth of microfilm for the Gifu Nicki Nicki newspaper,
and this kindness was continued by the invaluable Ms Ft~jii and
her colleagues at the Meiji Shimbun Zasshi Bunko. Others to
offer unstinting support include the staff of the Fukushima
Prefectural Library, and my good friends at the Gifu Prefecture
Historical Archives, Messrs Ito Katsushi and Usui Susumu.
Finally, for rest, recuperation, and an idyll in the heart of
Vlll
Acknowledgements IX
Tsuchiura, Ibaragi prefecture, my deepest thanks to Dr Saga
Junichi and his family.
Ms Belinda Holdsworth was a most kind, generous and
patient editor, and I must thank Dr Michael Dockrill for his
own patience as series editor. Ms Helen Boxall provided most
helpful assistance with research on the japan Weekly Mail. A
special mention to my friend and colleague Garry Collins of the
Australian National University for taking me to court (tennis)
and away from my desk o~ a weekly basis - the sine qua non of
research. For their friendship over many years, my profound
thanks to David Pollard, Garry and Michiko Evans. In the end,
I take responsibility for all errors and omissions in this work;
anything that is good within it I attribute to my wife, Yimei, and
to my parents.