Final answer:
During the late 1800s, Japan heavily invested in key industries such as mining, manufacturing of weapons and cement, textile production, railroad construction, and shipbuilding. The government's support was critical for modernizing the military and securing Japan's rapid industrialization, enabling its transformation into a world power.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the late 1800s, Japan experienced significant industrial growth, spurred by both governmental initiative and private investment. The Japanese government recognized the importance of modernizing the army and invested heavily in industry. Some of these investments included:
- The mining industry, with Mitsubishi and the government investing in coal, lead, iron, and copper mines.
- Factories for manufacturing modern weapons and cement.
- Expanding into territories such as Formosa (Taiwan) and the Korean Peninsula to secure needed raw materials.
- The textile industry, which continued to mechanize by purchasing equipment from abroad, found markets in the U.S. and globally.
- Railroad construction to link regions within Japan, such as the Tokyo-Yokohama line established in 1872.
- Shipbuilding to increase naval strength, which played a critical role in Japan's victories in the Sino-Japanese War (1895) and the Russo-Japanese War (1905).
Japan's industrialization was rapid due to its urbanized population, skilled artisans, and government backing. By taking a route opposite to China's, Japan embraced Western technology and expanded its empire and industrial might into the 20th century.