East Asian waters were increasingly integrated into the international steamship network from the mid-nineteenth century. Before the Sino- Japanese War (June 1894-November 1895), this network was in the tight grip of European — British, French, German, Dutch and Scandinavian — and American shipping firms. The entry of Japanese shipping into this business began immediately after the Sino-Japanese War, with the establishment by Japanese shipowners of major lines to Europe, Seattle, San Francisco and Australia. At the same time, once the war had ended in 1895, Japan joined the imperialist race in the Far East.

The development of Japanese shipping has often been seen as a factor in this imperialist expansion. This chapter does not argue that Japanese shipping was unrelated to imperialism. However, the relationship between Japanese imperialism and shipping has been somewhat misunderstood, especially by those aware of the western historical experience. Since the Age of Discovery, Europe's maritime power had overwhelmed other countries, with empires expanding all over the world and shipping becoming an important instrument in the extension of imperial possessions and commerce. This pattern led many to assume that the growth of shipping could not be divorced from imperialism. Nevertheless, modern shipping is basically a commercial activity and we should not presuppose that strong, mutually stimulating links inevitably exist between shipping and imperialism. In describing and explaining Japan's enthusiasm for the expansion of its shipping industry before the Sino-Japanese War, this chapter emphasizes the purely commercial aspects of this form of maritime development. Thus, if international economic relations can be divided into two parts — ordinary trade and emigration on the one hand, and an incursion into the sovereignty of another state to control its economy on the other — Japan's efforts to build up its shipping interests before the Sino-Japanese War clearly belong in the former category.

To understand the motives behind the establishment of Japan's first overseas lines, we need to consider the period before the 1894-1895 war, when various groups lobbied for the promotion of international shipping — notably, shipping companies, House of Representatives, government, and influential sectors of public opinion as evidenced by a series of contemporary, prize winning essays on shipping. Examination of these pro-shipping sentiments reveals that it was business rather than imperialism that provided the initial impetus to the growth of Japanese shipping.