The Russo-Japanese war had more of an impact on the revolution of 1905 than the events of 1917. Nicholas II was a rather aloof tsar that clung to the old notions of the Tsar being a father for his people. The people had had a rough decade or so prior to the Russo-Japanese war. There was the famine of 1891-2, a growing revolutionary front among the gentry and upper classes, and an overall reluctance of the Tsar to reform.

The war itself was a substantial blow to the Russian psyche. The war propaganda against Japan was very racist, the Japanese were seen as inherently inferior. But, we know, Japan embarrassed Russia, especially Russia's navy. This only fueled the already growing anger towards the Tsar and the inability of the Russian Empire to reform to a more modern state. This boiled over in the revolution of 1905, which was violently put down. Many view the 1905 revolution as a dress rehearsal for 1917, but it was a bit more benign. There were many religious overtones and a sense of supplication to the Tsar for change. 1917 and the subsequent civil war was much more violent.

I'd recommend "A People's Tragedy" by Orlando Figes if you'd like to read more into this period.