Because of the attempts by European nations to force concessions from China, Japan feared the West. However, Japan followed the Western example, and went to war with China over the question of control of Korea, in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–95. Japan won dominance in Korea and possession of Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands.

Russian influence in Manchuria and Korea led to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05, in which the Russians were decisively defeated. Russia lost southern Sakhalin (Karafuto) to Japan, and was forced to withdraw from Manchuria, permitting Japan to exploit the natural resources of southern Manchuria. In 1910 Japan annexed Korea. Emperor Mutsuhito died in 1912 and was succeeded by Yoshihito.