Japan Changes Direction During the Meiji Era: Commodore Matthew Perry

Novel – Moby Dick and Whaling industry (set off coast of Japanese islands) What made the United States so aware of Japan? 1853 – Commodore Matthew Perry “Opens Up” Japan to Western Trade!

What Did the U. S. Want??  Coaling stations.  More trading partners.  A haven for ship-wrecked sailors.

Perry ’ s “ Black Ships ” (intimidation)

The Treaty of Kanagawa – 1854 beginning of unequal treaties beginning of unequal treaties The Treaty of Kanagawa – 1854 beginning of unequal treaties beginning of unequal treaties American ships can stop at 2 Japanese ports Extraterritoriality as well Many Japanese were humiliated and disgusted with their leadership

Japan Learns a Lesson! I n 1862, just before the start of the Meiji period, Tokugawa sent officials and scholars to China to study the situation there. A Japanese recorded in his diary from Shanghai… The Chinese have become servants to the foreigners. Sovereignty may belong to China but in fact it's no more than a colony of Great Britain and France.

The Shi-shi ( “ Men of High Purpose ” )  Highly idealistic samurai who felt that the arrival of Westerners was an attack on the traditional values of Japan.  They believed that:  Japan was sacred ground.  The emperor, now a figurehead in Kyoto, was a God.  Were furious at the Shogun for signing treaties with the West without the Emperor’s consent.  Their slogan  Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians!

The Meiji Revolt  A powerful group of samurai overthrow the Shogun.  Sakamoto Ryoma, the hero.  He helped Japan emerge from feudalism into a unified modern state.

The Shogunate Is Overthrown!  The last Shogun.  Tokugawa Yoshinobu.

The Emperor Is “ Restored ” to Power MEIJI  “Enlightened Rule”

Modernization by “ Selective Borrowing ” Start by leaving Japan & studying in various Western capitals. Sent top Samurai around globe to observe policies, philosophies, agriculture etc End by returning to Japan and becoming prominent government officials. To be a first class nation we must reorganize 4 things

Re-organization of Japan (Meiji Reformation) Military – Strong Military means Rich Country. Invest in western military technologies (ships, guns etc,) Government – More central government control with some representation of the people Education – 40% was literate (good) make mandatory education for all and we all pay for it. Most popular book was Robinson Crusoe and self help books (Samuel Emile). This is the area that separates Japan from the rest of Asia Economy – This is the biggest change of them all and probably the most revolutionary

Japanese Military Transforms Japan needs strong military to deal with the West Imperial Army and Navy (belongs to the emperor) 1873 – abolish the samurai class and start conscription army (Movie “Last Samurai”) Major move to increase military output and training

A Constitutional Government (Copied from the Germans) The Emperor of Japan The Diet (Legislative Body) House of Representatives House of Peers 1889 Constitution of Japan “We need a Constitution if others are to view us as modern” Sacred and divine (never wrong) Very different from all other modern states

European Goods  Europe began to “loom large” in the thinking of many Japanese.  New slogan: Japanese Spirit; Western Technology!

The Japanese Became Obsessed with Western Styles Civilization and Enlightenment!

Everything Western Was Fashionable!

Japanese soldiers with their wives.

The Rulers Set the Tone with Western Dress Emperor Meiji Empress Haruko ( )

Changing Women ’ s Fashions 1900 Styles The First “Miss Japan” (1908)

“Borrow ideas, technologies but never borrow ____________ from the West” Suez Canal and Egypt Example Selective Borrowing of Japanese So what to do? We are losing $ and cant compete with the West Socialism does not work and we don’t want it

Japanese Economic Solution ZAIBATSU – protected monopolies Mitsui – banking Mitsubishi – Shipping Sumitomo – Mining They lead the Japanese economy “I will do whatever is good for the country, not for myself” Ideas is called Kokotu (All for the Nation) Would Carnegie, Rockefeller or JP Morgan have done this for the President and the United States?

Meiji Reforms Abolition of the feudal system Land Redistribution Human Rights & Religious Freedom Build a Modern Navy (British) Westernize the School System (Fr. & Ger.) Modernize the Army (Prussian) Emperor Worship Intensified Written Constitution (Germans) Modern Banking System

Expansionism & the Rise of Military Power New players on the block?

The Sino-Japanese War began in July 1894 and ended in China’s shattering defeat in April It involved battles on land and sea; began with fighting in Korea that spilled over the Yalu River into Manchuria Sino-Japanese War:

Soldiers on the Battlefield During the Sino-Japanese War The Treaty of Shimonoseki ended the war.

This great demonstration of military prowess not only hastened the end of the unequal treaties that the foreign powers had saddled Japan with ever since the 1850s. It also opened the door to an extraordinary, almost unimaginable prize: the conclusion (in 1902) of a bilateral military alliance with Great Britain. Results: Sino-Japanese War: Japan most powerful state in Asia

Not all Good News after victory for Japan Receive Formosa (Taiwan) Pescadores Islands But have to return Liaotung Peninsula (entry to Manchuria) Russia, Germany and France tell them no 1898 Russia takes this piece of property an everyone is silent

Japan is angry – this sucks (double standard for the West) They begin to prepare for war with Russia Who do they have a treaty with? Very Important Who controls the Suez Canal? Very, very important Japan prepares for War with Russia Feb 4, 1904 they attack Russia at Port Arthur by surprise (sound familiar?) Bloody tough fought land war(25% of army die but they keep on) Russia in a race against time. Supply issues

The Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima: The Battle of Tsushima: Japan guesses route and puts 44 of 47 ships there The results startled the world!

President Teddy Roosevelt Mediates the Peace The Treaty of Portsmouth, NH ended the Russo-Japanese War.

Respect for Japan? Results of Treaty: Russia withdraws for Manchuria Japan keeps small military force there But that is it? No payment for war from Russia to Japan. People in Japan are pissed!! Politicians betrayed us! Roosevelt betrayed us! That is all we get??

Japan Annexes Korea

Japan Is a Player in China

Competition from Another “ Pacific ” Power Is on the Horizon

But, Japanese Power Would Grow...

Points to Ponder Someone has to pay to be a rich industrialized country 1.Young Women – payed the price through work, home and child rearing 2.Environment – copper mines, landscape ruined, kill fish, rivers, people “Electricity is discovered and the world is darker” What does this mean??? Does this sound like any place today in the world??