When did Japan first become an imperialist power by gaining control?

Question:

Answer:

Whenever Japanese nobles had financial problems, one possible solution was plundering the Koreans. In 1592 Japanese invaders cut off the noses and ears of Korean aristocrats and deposited their "souvenirs" in the "Nose and Ear Shrine" in Japan. Since then on every birthday of the shrine Korea officially is protesting against that day to be celebrated.