The Japanese engaged mainly with German forces. The Japanese's first battle was with the German forces in the Far East. On September 2, 1914, Japanese forces quickly landed on the Shandong province and surrounded the German settlement of Tsingtao. Later in October, Japan seized several German Pacific island colonies, such as the Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall islands with no resistance. After several air raids(including the first one launched from a boat), the siege of Tsingtao ended with the Germans surrendering on November 7, 1914.
The Japanese engaged the Austrian-Hungarians in 1917 while providing naval escorts in the Mediterranean to allied ships . Although it was a relatively engagement free, the Austrian-Hungarians managed to land a torpedo on the destroyer Sakaki and 59 sailors died. Because of their support in protecting the transports (which brought 700,000 allied troops and greatly helped in the war effort), the British recognized their claims in Shantung and in the Pacific Islands north of the equator. The Japanese also captured seven German submarines, which aided in their own submarine program.
The Japanese fought till the war officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles. The Japanese contribution during the war would later help them gain a very important international political symbol, a permanent seat on the League of Nations in 1920. This helped Japan greatly in trying to become a major post-war power and helped expand its sphere of influence in China. They were also allowed to keep former German colonies and bases that they had captured during the war. The Japanese had 0 civilian casualties and an estimated 1210 military casualties. Although Japan greatly contributed to the Entente powers, many nations still did not recognize Japan to the level they felt they earned throughout the course of the war. Over time they realized that they gained relatively little and would eventually run into serious troubles a couple of years after the war. After a short economic boom, there was severe inflation, shortages, and unemployment rates. When the US passed the Asian Exclusion act in 1924, the Japanese felt very insulted and nationalism began growing in the country, and eventually this would later be a deciding factor for Japan to join their former enemies in World War II.
The Japanese engaged the Austrian-Hungarians in 1917 while providing naval escorts in the Mediterranean to allied ships . Although it was a relatively engagement free, the Austrian-Hungarians managed to land a torpedo on the destroyer Sakaki and 59 sailors died. Because of their support in protecting the transports (which brought 700,000 allied troops and greatly helped in the war effort), the British recognized their claims in Shantung and in the Pacific Islands north of the equator. The Japanese also captured seven German submarines, which aided in their own submarine program.
The Japanese fought till the war officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles. The Japanese contribution during the war would later help them gain a very important international political symbol, a permanent seat on the League of Nations in 1920. This helped Japan greatly in trying to become a major post-war power and helped expand its sphere of influence in China. They were also allowed to keep former German colonies and bases that they had captured during the war. The Japanese had 0 civilian casualties and an estimated 1210 military casualties. Although Japan greatly contributed to the Entente powers, many nations still did not recognize Japan to the level they felt they earned throughout the course of the war. Over time they realized that they gained relatively little and would eventually run into serious troubles a couple of years after the war. After a short economic boom, there was severe inflation, shortages, and unemployment rates. When the US passed the Asian Exclusion act in 1924, the Japanese felt very insulted and nationalism began growing in the country, and eventually this would later be a deciding factor for Japan to join their former enemies in World War II.