Jumping from the Edo period to the 60s does miss a rather important point in the development in Japan and Korea's identity - the Empire of Japan. In 1910, the E

Jumping from the Edo period to the 60s does miss a rather important point in the development in Japan and Korea's identity - the Empire of Japan. In 1910, the Empire of Japan (who were still "good" guys - allies of the British Empire), annexed the failing Empire of Korea. To unify the empire, they used a "pure bloodline" propaganda myth - Koreans and Japanese were all pure-blooded warriors from the same stock. After they split up politically, the myths diverged, but never really died (certainly not in North Korea, where the propaganda never stopped).