Japan, 1905–1918

Hybrid Regime · Monarchy · East Asia · Great War Era era

Japan after its victory over Russia, a rising imperial power industrializing rapidly and extending control over Korea and into China.

Having defeated Russia in 1905, Japan was recognized as a first-rank power, annexed Korea in 1910 and expanded its interests in China and the Pacific. Rapid industrialization and a strong military coexisted with the constitutional Meiji-Taishō order in which oligarchs, the army and an elected Diet contended for influence. Participation in the First World War further enlarged its position in East Asia.

Open Japan 1905–1918 in the interactive 3D atlas →

Dominant patterns

  • Militarization
  • External Expansion
  • Great-Power Rivalry
  • Regime Stabilization
  • Democratization

Political-science factor profile

Each factor 0–100; higher = stronger authoritarian / crisis pole (except institutional stability, where higher = stronger institutions).

Centralization of Power65
Media Control52
Repression50
Nationalism78
Militarization82
Economic Stress40
External Conflict72
Cult of Personality65
Elite Fragmentation48
Institutions65
Social Polarization48
Corruption & Patrimonialism48
Ideological Mobilization62
External Sovereignty100

Economy & society

GDP per capita$1500 (intl-$)
GDP growth+2.5%/yr
Population55.0M people
Share of world population3.1%
Urban share30%
Territory~675k km²
Capital population~2.2M

Closest historical twins

The country-eras whose structural profile most resembles Japan 1905–1918, by similarity score (0–100).

  1. Japan, 1868–1912 – similarity 93/100 · shared: Militarization, External Expansion, Great-Power Rivalry, Regime Stabilization, Democratization
  2. Germany, 1890–1914 – similarity 91/100 · shared: Militarization, External Expansion, Great-Power Rivalry, Democratization
  3. France, 1226–1270 CE – similarity 89/100 · shared: Militarization, External Expansion, Great-Power Rivalry, Regime Stabilization, Democratization
  4. Empire of Nicaea, 1204–1261 CE – similarity 89/100 · shared: Militarization, External Expansion, Great-Power Rivalry, Regime Stabilization
  5. Kingdom of Aksum, 330–370 CE – similarity 88/100 · shared: Militarization, External Expansion, Great-Power Rivalry, Regime Stabilization, Democratization
  6. Spain, 1759–1788 CE – similarity 88/100 · shared: Militarization, External Expansion, Great-Power Rivalry, Regime Stabilization, Democratization
  7. Chola Empire, 985–1070 CE – similarity 87/100 · shared: Militarization, External Expansion, Great-Power Rivalry, Regime Stabilization
  8. Kingdom of Kush, 800–730 BCE – similarity 86/100 · shared: Militarization, External Expansion, Great-Power Rivalry, Regime Stabilization

What followed

  • Annexation of Korea and expansion in East Asia.
  • Recognition as a first-rank power.