Japan and Decolonization

Alright, this is something I've been thinking about for awhile.

Basically, had Japan retained its colonies, and perhaps gained slightly more, how would it react to decolonization?
Would they go the British route and form Dominions to try and retain some influence in the new nations, would it go the French route
of trying to form an integral Union/Federation, would they simply outright refuse to allow the status quo from being changed or would
they go another route?

Another thing, what would they considered colonies, Korea was more or less an unequal but integral part of the Empire and Taiwan was
close to becoming a full integral and equal Prefecture, so what would gain independence, and how might the world react?
 
Taiwan would have probably become an integral part of Japan just like the Ryukyu Islands which had been independent kingdom for centuries but were invaded by the Japanese in 1609.

Taiwan had been awarded to Japan after the Sino-Japanese war in 1895.

But Korea had been invaded and occupied. So would think if democracy had taken hold in Japan that Korea would have been allowed to possibly become independent. Probably after some years of autonomous rule. Afterall, Korea had been a nation for centuries.
 
There was talk in the 1940s of giving Korea representation in the Diet. That would have gone over real well, I'm sure, but it was what was in the air...
 
Another thing, what would they considered colonies, Korea was more or less an unequal but integral part of the Empire and Taiwan was close to becoming a full integral and equal Prefecture, so what would gain independence, and how might the world react?

Taiwan was Japan's first colony.

Since no experience of colonization, and eager to show the world that Japan is equal capable to those advance countries, she sent out scholars to learn from countries with colony like Britain and France.

She took policy in between, that is, Britain's caste system and France's similization.

Though Japan consider Taiwanese also the people of Emperor, under the protection of Japan's constitution, before 1920, law 63 gave governor absolute power to contradict constitution, actually deprived Taiwanese of that protection.

On the other hand, Japan made education mandatory to every Taiwanese, gradually turned Taiwanese speaking her language, learning her history and spirit. Japanese culture is similar to Chinese, rather acceptable at some degree, before pacific war erupted, many Taiwanese had already used Japanese name instead of Chinese name, and more or less consider themselves Japanese citizens.

Taiwanese do not have strong nationhood in mind, at least not as strong as Korean, and Qing China considered Taiwan as a far away, outskirt island, didn't give Taiwan much attention. Qing's garrison sparsely stationed at west Taiwan just to prevent rebellion.

Japan's rule may not be welcomed at first, but definitely bring Taiwan from barbarian to a modern, industrialized place.

If no pacific war, Taiwan definitely will be one prefecture of Japan. Around 1920, Taiwanese had petitioned to abolish law 63 and have representatives in the Diet, with some successes. After drafting Taiwanese into war, the bond went stronger.

So basically speaking, Taiwanese wouldn't seek independence from Japan even as early as 1920. No need to mention after went into war together before1945, sort of band of brothers, Japan version.

China at that time considered Taiwan a legal part of Japan, Chen Yi, later became the first governor of Taiwan under Nationalist rule, public praised Taiwanese people was so fortunate under Japan rule, so rich and comfort. Mao considered Taiwanese a minor people, should give it a chance to self-determine its future, from Japan.

Of course, some Taiwanese scholars supported self-determination during Japanese rule. Japan government's attitude was evasive, if you didn't publicly promote the idea, it wouldn't intervene, if you did, you got yourself arrested.

BTW, worth mentioning, those scholars mostly died or fleed to Japan after 1947, 228 incident, when the troops of one of the Allies, shipping by US navy to do the wonderful peace keeping job.

Colonies of Japan were different from western countries' colonies. Japan shared with her colonies the culture origined from China, the same color, and look. The feeling of rule by others was less severe. (Maybe not for Korean)
 
Last edited:
Japan's policy towards colonialism was to make puppets anyways with obvious exceptions. Formosa and Korea the big ones.

Assuming Japan comes out of WW2 or the time period with Manchuria, part of China(around Beijing), Korea, Taiwan, Indochina and Siam, you'd see Manchukuo, Wang's Chinese government, and Siam independent for sure.

To be honest, I think Japan would try and hold on to Indochina by force and it likely would be the first to rebel, which would then turn into a running sore for Japan.

Likely enough to conceed their independence. Korea would probably be next. Depending on the government in power they'd either fight even harder to keep them, or let them go without a struggle after the Indochina affair.

Depending on who's in power in the rest of China, you very well could see Wang's KMT and the regular KMT becoming one in the same if the Communists are in power.
 
Japan's policy towards colonialism was to make puppets anyways with obvious exceptions. Formosa and Korea the big ones.

Colonies acquired before the pacific war or after may have a big different meaning to Japan.

NHK had a mini series on how Japan stepped on the world stage, one episode mentioned about Taiwan as its cornerstone to the world.

One line says all, "The success of colonization of Formosa (Taiwan) is vital to the world status of Japan, to be the number one country and not be colonized by other western powers."

As a showpiece, that's why Taiwan received so many infrastructure construction, instead of blood-sucking.:)

After war erupted, those countries had been occupied mostly because of their strategic resources, not really colonies. Especially Japanese had no extra manpower to manage those places, they set up puppet states to run by themselves. Of course the rule would be rather brutal compared to former colonies. (The same when Japan landed Taiwan on 1895)
 
Taiwan was Japan's first colony.

Since no experience of colonization, and eager to show the world that Japan is equal capable to those advance countries, she sent out scholars to learn from countries with colony like Britain and France.

She took policy in between, that is, Britain's caste system and France's similization.

Though Japan consider Taiwanese also the people of Emperor, under the protection of Japan's constitution, before 1920, law 63 gave governor absolute power to contradict constitution, actually deprived Taiwanese of that protection.

On the other hand, Japan made education mandatory to every Taiwanese, gradually turned Taiwanese speaking her language, learning her history and spirit. Japanese culture is similar to Chinese, rather acceptable at some degree, before pacific war erupted, many Taiwanese had already used Japanese name instead of Chinese name, and more or less consider themselves Japanese citizens.

Taiwanese do not have strong nationhood in mind, at least not as strong as Korean, and Qing China considered Taiwan as a far away, outskirt island, didn't give Taiwan much attention. Qing's garrison sparsely stationed at west Taiwan just to prevent rebellion.

Japan's rule may not be welcomed at first, but definitely bring Taiwan from barbarian to a modern, industrialized place.

If no pacific war, Taiwan definitely will be one prefecture of Japan. Around 1920, Taiwanese had petitioned to abolish law 63 and have representatives in the Diet, with some successes. After drafting Taiwanese into war, the bond went stronger.

So basically speaking, Taiwanese wouldn't seek independence from Japan even as early as 1920. No need to mention after went into war together before1945, sort of band of brothers, Japan version.

China at that time considered Taiwan a legal part of Japan, Chen Yi, later became the first governor of Taiwan under Nationalist rule, public praised Taiwanese people was so fortunate under Japan rule, so rich and comfort. Mao considered Taiwanese a minor people, should give it a chance to self-determine its future, from Japan.

Of course, some Taiwanese scholars supported self-determination during Japanese rule. Japan government's attitude was evasive, if you didn't publicly promote the idea, it wouldn't intervene, if you did, you got yourself arrested.

BTW, worth mentioning, those scholars mostly died or fleed to Japan after 1947, 228 incident, when the troops of one of the Allies, shipping by US navy to do the wonderful peace keeping job.

Colonies of Japan were different from western countries' colonies. Japan shared with her colonies the culture origined from China, the same color, and look. The feeling of rule by others was less severe. (Maybe not for Korean)

How would Taiwan's Atayal tribes fare?

I know there were the Takasago Volunteers under Japanese rule, some recruited, some forcibly drafted.

And didn't some of the Atayal resist assimilation fairly well under Japanese rule?

Plus the fact that you don't have a flood of refugees from the mainland following the Nationalists defeat means they won't be quite as overwhelmed numerically.
 
Top