How does the documentary "Horrors in the East" explain the transition of the Japanese military from being relatively humane in Taiwan and WWI to committing horrific atrocities in the 1930s and WWII?
Originally, the Japanese adopted policy that modeled after the West's foreign policy, and so this was portrayed by the relatively humane treatment in Taiwan. As shown in the documentary, German prisoners-of-war in Japan were treated quite well. However, a shift in foreign policy brought Japan back to traditional influence, and they began to isolate themselves from Western influence. Japan began to imperialize neighboring countries and colonies; these actions were condemned by the League of Nations. As the Japanese found this criticism hypocritical, they left the League and took drastic measures in order to expand their empire. This contributes to their change in treatment towards other ethnicities. They believed that the emperor was a God, and so any actions under him were justified. They were also taught that the other ethnicities were not human, and that they themselves were the supreme race. As a result of this dehumanization, treatment towards other ethnicities became brutal and atrocious. Massacres and rape were commonly seen in these atrocities.