** Russo-Japanese War: Popular Attitudes








Russo-Japanese War: Popular Attitudes


Figure 1.--This 1904 Keystone stereoscope card was made during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904. It was entiteled, "14061: The Mikado's loyal subjects--reading the war news." When the card was made, the War was still in progress. The children look too youing to be reading. We are not sure to what degree the photograph was staged. A reader writes, "I agree that those kids are way to young to be reading about the war so either there is a photo or a cartoon on their side of the paper or scene was definitely staged." We suspect that the photographer used the children to stage a scene he had noticed with adults.

One interesting question is how ordinary people in Tsarist Russia and Japan thought about the War. We do not have any information on Russia yet, although we know that there was a powerful public reactioin in the aftermath of Russia's defeat--he Revolution of 1905. We have some information about Imperial Japan. Just what the Japanese people though about war and empire building is an interesting question because it would have such a momentous impact on the country's future. We know how the military thought, but the attitudes of ordinary Japanese people is less carefully documented. And for HBC we are especially interested in how children felt which of course would be a reflection of their parent's attitudes, meaning the fathers' attitudes, and what they were taught in school.

Tsarist Russia

One interesting question is how ordinary people in Tsarist Russia and Japan thought about the War. We do not have any information on Russia yet, although we know that there was a powerful public reactioin in the aftermath of Russia's defeat--the Revolution of 1905.

Imperial Japan

Public reaction

The public reaction to the War in Japan was just the opposite of that in Russia. Of course part of that difference was the fct that Japan won the War. The fact that Marxist ideology was less influential in Japan was another major difference. The War and Japan';s victory resulted in a wave of patriotic feeling which strengthened both the monarchy and the millitary. The military thus at the beginning of the century acquired enormous prestige. It was one thing to defeat China (1894-95), but Russuaas a major European power. This was the first time since the Europoean maritime outreach (16th century) that an Asian country had defeated one of the important European countries.

1904 Stereoscope

One interesting piece of evidence is a 1904 stereoscope card produced by the Keystone Company. The stereoscope was a popular item found in home parlors all across America. At the time, photographs were only beginning to be featured in newspapers and magazines. The caption was,"14061: The Mikado's loyal subjects--reading the war news." When the card was made, the War was still in progress. The children look too youing to be reading. We are not sure to what degree the photograph was staged. A reader writes, "I agree that those kids are way to young to be reading about the war so either there is a photo or a cartoon on their side of the paper or scene was definitely staged." We suspect that the photographer used the children to stage a scene he had noticed with adults. The back of the card has some fascinating information about popular attitudes. It should be remembered that this card was produced four decades before the Pacific War. It is especially interesting giving thec fact that many Japanese today believe that their country was 'tricked' into the Pacific War with America. The military of course by this time compoletely controlled the Government and strongly influences education. Yet we see very nationlist and militaritic attitudes, decades before the military seized control of ther Government.

American Observer

The back of this stereoscope card reads,"Those tiny patriots look so serious as the Mikado's caninet deliberatingh how to tke Port Arthur. It is really surpriding almost amazing what dreams of military glory Japanese boys simetime have. Dr. Jmes A.B. Scharer, now President of Newberry College in South Carolina, formerly teacher of English in the government college at Saga, Japan, tells us something of the frenzied patriotismhe found ampong his pupils. They call their own devotion to their country'the Japanese soul;' patriotism is their supreme virtue, their first and great commandment. That their Jingoism is ambitious of conquest is reflected in an essay which a pupil wrote for Dr. Scherer as follows:

Why I Study English: "The English is the language of the most strongest nations. Whosoever wish to conquer any country, he must know the country and get the people's confidence. But this will not be done without the understand the language. Now we will learn the English. Then our navy shall sail across the sea, we will conquer England, we will conquer also our dear teacher's country {America], and the flag of Great Japan will wave above all the world."







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Created: 3:35 AM 4/2/2012
Last updated: 6:55 PM 4/2/2012