The Role Of Japanese Plutocrats During The War Of Aggression Against China

The rise and perish of Japanese plutocrats which played a significant role during theWar of Aggression against China, is the microcosm of modern Japanese society changesalong with the development and the end of Japanese imperialism. During the wholeprocess, plutocrats Mitsui and Mitsubishi are the two typical examples. With thegovernment’s support, Mitsui and Mitsubishi have gained their rapid development. Afterobtaining their monopoly positions, Mitsui and Mitsubishi became more involved in therelationship with political parties, military forces and government and took an active partin Japan’s domestic and foreign affairs, playing a very important role in Japan’saggression process.Mitsui and Mitsubishi offered their support to the full extent during Japan’saggression wars, covering from the support in chemistry in chemistry industry and foreignpolicies. When Japan’s militarization of national economy was completed, Mitsui andMitsubishi acted more like the country’s companies and became more involved in thespecific measures in Japan’s aggression war of China. However, America, considering itsown strategic benefits, did not fully implement the punishment to these two plutocrats.How could the plutocrats which played an active part in the aggression war of Chinareceive superficial punishment? What kind of historical judgment should the plutocratsreceive?In order to answer this question, one needs to figure out the characteristics ofplutocrats and their relationship with Japanese government and with Military and theiractivities during the war. This could lead to an objective evaluation of the roles ofJapanese plutocrats during the war and a healthy development of the two countries’relationship.