Final answer:
Former territories of the Japanese empire include South Korea, Taiwan, parts of China, and the southern part of Sakhalin Island from Russia. Tibet and India were not under Japanese control. Japan's imperial period ended after World War II, leading to the liberation of its colonies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan significantly expanded its territory and established itself as a colonial power. By defeating China in the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895 and Russia in the war of 1905, Japan took control of several regions.
As a result, areas that were formerly part of the Japanese empire include the Korean Peninsula (South Korea), Taiwan, parts of China, and the southern part of Sakhalin Island, which was taken from Russia. Tibet and India were not part of the Japanese Empire, and although Japan fought against Russia, it did not control any part of what is today the Russian Federation, apart from the southern part of Sakhalin.
Japan's colonial endeavors provided them with access to considerable natural resources and labor markets, contributing to the nation's industrial growth. They established colonial rule in Korea, Taiwan, and parts of China and Russia, utilizing the local population and resources for Japan's industrialization efforts.
After World War II, Japan lost its colonial territories, leading to the liberation of these regions. South Korea eventually became a capitalist democracy, while the northern part was turned into a communist dictatorship, known today as North Korea.