After the restoration of the Meiji Dinasty (1868-1912), at the beginning of the 20th century, Japan was expanding its empire (i.e. Russian ports and rails in Manchuria, Germany's Pacific Islands and many territories in China) and experienced a period of economic stability.

Now the most populous state in the world, at the beginning of the 20th century new revolutionary and republican ideals pervaded the Chinese Empire (one of the first example is the Boxer Rebellion in 1898-1901). Frustrated by Qing Dinasty's tiranny and resistance to reform, young officials and students began to advocate abolishing the Empire; slavery was definitely condemned in 1910, and a general military rebellion (Wuchang Uprising) in October 1911 led to the foundation of the Republic of China in March 1912.

At the time of Turin 1911, the nation was still called with its historical name Persia (the name Iran was adopted in 1935) and it was ruled by Qajar Dinasty (restored thanks to Russian military intervention) . Strategically located between the Ottoman Empire and the Chinese and Russian territories, the history of Persia is featured by foreign invasions and instability. Here, as in many other countries in the same period, first rebel and democratical movements started at the beginning of the 20th century (1906), but the Islamic Republic was founded only in 1976.