The Origin of Territorial Disputes in Northeast Asia and Japanese Perceptions of the Russo-Japanese War: A Literature Review

摘要

A great deal of research confirming not only the history of nationalist formation and subsequent eruption but also the political and diplomatic positions regarding territorial disputes in Northeast Asia has accumulated to date. Mostly, these studies have focused on conflicts in Northeast Asia in terms of diplomacy based on national interest and just cause, economic pressures to secure resources, and historical aspects when analyzing the factors of conflict while reflecting upon the past. In turn, this article deals with the internal conditions of the people in Northeast Asian countries formed since the 19th century. From this context, this study seeks to investigate the combination of Japanese nationalism as present in literature before and after the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) and examines how it is connected to Japanese militarism. The Russo-Japanese War had a significant influence on Japanese literature and naturally contributed to forming the internal conditions of the Japanese people. After great sacrifice, Japan won the war and opened a pioneering path into Manchuria through Joseon, the rising fortunes at that time leading to nostalgia for the Meiji Era.