korea under japanese rule is a term to define korea when it was under japanese control. japanese victory in the first sino-japanese war in 1895 and in the russo-japanese war in 1905 cleared the way. japan controlled korea for 35 years during japanese imperialism. the japanese control of korea lasted from 22 august 1910 until 15 august 1945. the japanese rulers of korea left the country on 2 september 1945. in japan, the more common term is "korea of the japanese-governed period" (日本統治時代の朝鮮, nippon tōchi-jidai no chosen).