INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL
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Japan Talk
China refuses to give up Korea How and why the Sino - Japanese war began
Inside this Issue Page 1 The Sino Japanese War Page 2 Treaty of Shimonoseki Page 3 Interviews with locals Page 4 Life Style
Korea, also known as the ‘Hermit Kingdom’
Speeding things into motion, a rebellion
had a long paid tribute to China. However,
against the corrupt government of the King of
Japan’s government have always wanted to have a
Korea by the Tong Hak Society broke out in
foothold in Korea for protecting Japan’s national
southern Korea. The King requested both China
security. This was a problem for China because
and Japan to help quash this rebellion. However
China didn’t want Japan in Korea. In 1883, Prime
this rebellion was already put down by the time
Minister Yamagata Aritomo saw conflict over
both countries’ troops had arrived.
Korea as inevitable and stated:
Regardless of how the rebellion had already
“... the high-handed attitude of the Chinese
ended, neither countries wanted to remove their
toward Korea, which was antagonistic to the
troops from Korea. On one hand, China wanted
interests of Japan, showed our officers that a
complete control over Korea without
great war was to be expected sooner or later on
interferences, but on the other, Japan wanted
the continent, and made them eager to acquire
Korea to declare independence from China. On
knowledge, for they were as yet quite unfitted for
July 23rd 1984, Japanese troops held the King of
a continental war.”
Korea captive forcing him to declare
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independence from China. Attempting to force
The main provisions of the treaty was
the Japanese away from Korea, China sent
beneficial to Japan. Some of them were that
reinforcements. Nevertheless, the troopship never
China had to recognize Korea as an independent
set foot in Korea before Japan got to them. This
state. The Liaotung Peninsula, Formosa, and the
war lasted for less than a year, on both land and
Pescadores Islands were given to Japan. Four new
sea. Japan came out of this war victorious,
Chinese ports were also opened to Japanese
surprising the Western powers how quickly Japan
trades. Additionally, Japan gained most favored
had mastered the art of modern warfare.
nation rights on China as well as an indemnity
On April 17th, China and Japan will be signing
from China of 200 million taels.
the treaty of Shimonoseki, officially ending the
conflict over Korea.
- Sean Ker
The Russians rejects Japan’s offer Another continental war... With Britain as an ally, Japan was in a strong position to oppose Russian expansion. At the time, Japan wanted to get Russia to recognize Japan’s special position in Korea so at an Imperial Conference in 1903, Japan offered to recognize Russia’s rights in Manchuria if Russia would recognize its interests in Korea. However, Russia rejected because they thought that Japan’s presence in Korea could threaten their exclusive line of communication. So, Japan had no other choice but to go to war with Russia. On February 8th 1904, Japanese naval troops bombed the Russian naval without warning. Two days later, war was declared. Less than 3 months, the Russian troops were driven out of Korea and was pushed North into Manchuria. Although suffering great losses, Japan continued to drive the Russians out of Korea. At sea, the Japanese were doing just as well. Under Admiral Togo, the Japanese navy defeated the Russian fleet in the Straits of
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Tsushima. Although this war was an extraordinary victory, the japanese had many casualties. Consequently, both countries agreed to the offer made by the President of the United States of America to be their peacemaker. The treaty signed was called The treaty of Portsmouth and it was signed in New Hampshire on the 5th of September 1905. Some of its main provisions were: - Russia recognized Japan’s interests in Korea
- Russia surrendered its control of the South Manchurian Railway to the Japanese - Japan acquired the southern half of the island of Sakhalin - both nations agreed not to interfere with any decision China might make in the future to develop Manchuria
- Sean Ker
- the lease of the Liaotung Peninsula was transferred to Japan
Interviews about... Sino - Japanese War + the Treaty of Shimonoseki + Russo Japanese War + Treaty of Portsmouth Yokohama answers saying: ‘I
taking advantage of this time
thought Japan did really well in
when China was still weak, we
the both war. Japan’s military
thought fighting for our national
force won decisively on both
security would be a good idea.
land and sea showing the Western powers the extent of how quick Japan acquired the art of modern warfare. with Yokohoma Shitigo Tokyo’s government official representative The first question we asked
The second question was concerning why Japan wanted to fight China over Korea: Do you think it was
Yokohama was about Japan’s necessary for Japan to fight the current reputation as a world war against China and why? power:
The third question referred to the Anglo - Japanese Alliance: How did this alliance affect Japan’s fight for Korea against Russia? ‘Since Britain, the strongest power in the Far East was our ally, it was much easier to attempt to suppress Russian
‘Yes.’ he says, ‘We really felt
expansion. Although Britain
How did Japan winning the that another power having a Sino - Japanese war and the military presence on the Korean
didn’t actually fight with the us,
Russo - Japanese war affect peninsula could threaten our what the Western countries national security in Japan. Also, thought about Japan as a world we thought that China, was at its weakest point especially power? after their opium wars. So
the alliance did a great deal to impact our power to fight a war with Russia.
- Sean Ker
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Editorial Section About this political cartoon This political cartoon by a American cartoonist talks about when either Japan was fighting for K o re a w i t h C h i n a o r Russia. I totally agree with this cartoon as it describes both China or Russia like a huge bear compared to a small little person, Japan. The little person is always wondering what the huge bear is up to as Japan
Unexpectedly, the little
was wondering what China and
man did reach and defeat the
Russia were up to. In this
bear gaining special rights in
cartoon, it was like a race
Korea that were long desired.
CALL NOW TO RESERVE YOUR TABLE AT JAPAN’S BEST RESTAURANT - TERIYAKI HOUSE TELEPHONE # - 402- 534 - 102
Famous birthday’s coming up
between the little man and the bear to get to Korea before the other.
- Sean Ker
A quote from a British lieutenant describes how quickly Japan mastered the art of modern warfare. Document A “I came to Japan expecting to see some miserable parody of a
APRIL 29 (NATIONAL HOLIDAY) SHOWA DAY (SHOWA NO HI) / GREENERY DAY THE BIRTHDAY OF FORMER EMPEROR SHOWA
third-rate European soldier; instead, I find an army in every sense of the word admirably organized splendidly equipped, thoroughly drilled, and the strangest thing of all in an Oriental people, cheaply and honestly administered ...”
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Life Style Section Todays Recipe --- Beef Teriyaki + Chicken Sukiyaki
Beef Teriyaki
Ingredients:
•
A handful of shirataki noodles (made from yam cakes) or cellophane noodles
•
7-8 shiitake mushroom
•
1 block enoki mushrooms
•
1 medium size leek
•
1 Chinese cabbage
•
1 block of yaki-dofu (grilled tofu)
•
For sukiyaki sauce: (** You can also buy sukiyaki sauce in a bottle)
•
4 beef steaks
•
3 tbsp soy sauce
•
3 tbsps (and more) soy sauce
•
3 tbsp mirin
•
3 tbsps (and more) sake (Japanese rice wine)
•
1 tsp fresh ginger juice
•
3 tbsps (and more) sugar
•
1 glove garlic
•
1 cup or more soup stock/hotwater
•
vegetable oil for frying
•
For dipping: 4 eggs
Preparation:
Preparation:
Mix soy sauce, mirin, fresh ginger juice, and
Cut all ingredients into bite-sized pieces. Arrange all
sliced garlic. Marinate beef in the mixture for
ingredients on a large plate and place the plate at the
one hour. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan and table. Mix soy sauce, sake, sugar, and soup stock to fry steaks quickly. Turn over the steaks. Pour
make sukiyaki sauce. Set a hot plate or gas grill at
the sauce over the meat and cook for a few min. the table. ** After this point, everything is done at *Makes 4 servings
the table as you eat. Heat a little oil in a shallow skillet (can be a fry pan or a hot plate) at the table. Fry
Chicken Sukiyaki
chicken stripps, then add sukiyaki sauce. Add other ingredients when the sauce starts to boil. Simmer until all ingredients are softened. Dip the cooked sukiyaki into the raw, beaten eggs and begin to eat. As the liquid boils away, add more sukiyaki sauce. *Makes 4 servings
Ingredients: •
•
1 pound chicken breast
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