IB History Topic Nature & Impact of Japanese Occupation Revision Notes (HL)

IB History Topic Nature & Impact of Japanese Occupation Revision Notes (HL) | RevisionDojo

The Nature of Japanese Rule

Japan established a military government across occupied territories, claiming to free Asia from Western imperialism through the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
In reality, Japan imposed authoritarian control, strict censorship, and economic exploitation to serve its war needs.
Colonial structures were replaced by Japanese military administrators, who often ruled harshly and relied on fear, forced labor, and food requisition.
Japan mobilized local elites and nationalist leaders, promising independence to gain cooperation, though power remained with the Japanese army.
Propaganda stressed Pan-Asian unity, but racial hierarchies and brutality contradicted Japan’s liberation rhetoric.

Definition

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

Japan's imperial vision of economic and political unity in Asia under its leadership, often used to justify conquest.

Definition

Military Administration

System of direct rule by the Japanese army in occupied territories, emphasizing control and resource extraction.

Case study

Burma under Japanese Occupation (1942–1945)

Nature of Rule

Japan invaded Burma in 1942, promising liberation from British rule and forming the Burmese Independence Army (BIA) led by Aung San.
Initially, Japan allowed a puppet government under Ba Maw (1943), proclaiming Burmese independence but maintaining Japanese military control.
Economic exploitation was severe: rice and oil were requisitioned for Japan’s war effort, leading to famine and inflation.
Burmese civilians faced forced labor on projects such as the Burma–Thailand Railway, which caused thousands of deaths.

Impact

By 1944, resentment grew as the Japanese occupation became increasingly brutal and exploitative.
Aung San and other nationalists switched sides in March 1945, joining the Allied-supported Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL).
Japan’s fall left Burma with armed nationalists and an emerging leadership, paving the way for independence in 1948.
The occupation fostered both national unity and militarization, shaping Burma’s postwar politics.

Definition

Aung San

Burmese nationalist and founder of the Burmese Independence Army, initially supported by Japan.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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The Nature of Japanese Rule

Japan established a military government across occupied territories, claiming to free Asia from Western imperialism through the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
In reality, Japan imposed authoritarian control, strict censorship, and economic exploitation to serve its war needs.
Colonial structures were replaced by Japanese military administrators, who often ruled harshly and relied on fear, forced labor, and food requisition.
Japan mobilized local elites and nationalist leaders, promising independence to gain cooperation, though power remained with the Japanese army.
Propaganda stressed Pan-Asian unity, but racial hierarchies and brutality contradicted Japan’s liberation rhetoric.

Definition

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

Japan's imperial vision of economic and political unity in Asia under its leadership, often used to justify conquest.

Definition

Military Administration

System of direct rule by the Japanese army in occupied territories, emphasizing control and resource extraction.

Case study

Burma under Japanese Occupation (1942–1945)

Nature of Rule

Japan invaded Burma in 1942, promising liberation from British rule and forming the Burmese Independence Army (BIA) led by Aung San.
Initially, Japan allowed a puppet government under Ba Maw (1943), proclaiming Burmese independence but maintaining Japanese military control.
Economic exploitation was severe: rice and oil were requisitioned for Japan’s war effort, leading to famine and inflation.
Burmese civilians faced forced labor on projects such as the Burma–Thailand Railway, which caused thousands of deaths.

Impact

By 1944, resentment grew as the Japanese occupation became increasingly brutal and exploitative.
Aung San and other nationalists switched sides in March 1945, joining the Allied-supported Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL).
Japan’s fall left Burma with armed nationalists and an emerging leadership, paving the way for independence in 1948.
The occupation fostered both national unity and militarization, shaping Burma’s postwar politics.

Definition

Aung San

Burmese nationalist and founder of the Burmese Independence Army, initially supported by Japan.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

IB History Nature & Impact of Japanese Occupation Notes

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

The Nature of Japanese Rule

Burma under Japanese Occupation (1942–1945)

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

The Nature of Japanese Rule

Burma under Japanese Occupation (1942–1945)

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account