Pan-Asianism played a crucial role in Japanese imperialism in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It was thanks to the pan-Asian unifying Asian ideology that the Japanese were able to justify their imperialist actions. Pan-Asianism in Japan dates back to the 1850s, when Japan opened itself to foreign influence. (Mulder, 2012) However, the term Pan-Asian was not used until the 1890s and only appeared occasionally until the 1910s. (Saaler & Szpilman, 2011) A few decades later, the spiritual concepts of Pan-Asianism were been "distorted by the militarist Japanese government into a brutal imperialist ideology that seemed focused on conquest rather than liberation of Asia." (Hotta, 2007, p.ix). This meant that it moved from an ideal initially associated with Asian independence to a way of justifying aggressive imperialism against fellow Asians. In the 19th century, Japan became a modern imperial nation by welcoming modernization that proved it was as civilized as Western powers. The Japanese began to adopt modern communications infrastructure and develop the foundations of modern industry. Some Japanese began to adopt Western customs such as clothing; education became compulsory and universal conscription was introduced. Pan-Asianism did not reject modernity as a means to reclaim Asian greatness. (Hotta, 2007) Pan-Asianism was also very important in intellectual debate and policy formulation in Japan. Pan-Asianism provided "continuity within Japan's otherwise fragmented decision-making body and further enabled the overall mobilization of its population." (Hotta, 2007, p. 14) There was a new balance of power in East Asia in favor of Japan. Pan-Asianism has become more popular in Japan...... middle of paper ...... family family. During this period of military rule, Japan transitioned from a protectorate to a formal colony. Before and during World War II, the Japanese used propaganda to justify their imperialist actions. An example of this propaganda is the Greater East Asian Prosperity Sphere, an imperial concept created for the Asian populations occupied by the government and military of the Empire of Japan. The Greater East Asia Conference was held in November 1943 and was intended by the Japanese to illustrate their commitment to the pan-Asian ideal and to accentuate their role as “liberator” of Asia from Western colonialism. The themes of the conference were co-prosperity and coexistence and the upliftment of cultures of Greater East Asia as common goals of the Sphere. This specified the mission of saving Asia as the very aim of Japan's war. (Hotta, 2007)