CHAPTER 24 THE CHALLENGE OF MODERNITY: EAST ASIA, 1750–1900 Japan

Opium trade and expanded whaling brought Japan to the attention of the West.

West had respected Tokugawa shogunate’s policy of seclusion until 1840s. Discovery of gold in California increased trans-Pacific maritime trade. Some Japanese wanted Japan to resist West with force; others wanted negotiation. U.S. sent fleet with Commander Matthew C. Perry and a multiracial crew. – Brought Western technology to show Japanese: telegraph and railroad. Treaty of Kanagawa opened Japan to U.S. trade, and to other treaties.

The Meiji Restoration Samurai of Satsuma and Choshu rebelled, attacking Tokugawa officials and foreigners. Shogun replaced by Meiji Emperor, and capital renamed Tokyo. Meiji replaced regional daimyos with governors and centralized power in Japan. Samurai were disbanded and encouraged to form businesses.

Created a conscript army (copied Germans)... and a navy modeled on Britain’s. Compulsory education system encouraged loyalty to emperor and state. Meiji sponsored advisors to study Western science and technology. Sought out foreign territory to create buffer zone: Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands.

Japan’s victory in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895 surprised China and the West. Japan’s interest in Manchuria brought it into conflict with Russia. Russo-Japanese War,

Zaibatsu and Political Parties: Economics and Society in Meiji Japan Unlike China, Japan quickly went studied Western technology and industry. Meiji economic reforms focused on limiting ownership of new businesses to Japanese. – Determined to develop exports and keep imports to a minimum. – Japan developed industry quickly, but still needs to import raw material.

With government support, businesses became cartels to control industries. These cartels, called zaibatsu, took over most Japanese business. Japanese particularly quick to develop trains, telegraph, and later telephone.

Meiji Constitution, 1889–World War II – Borrowed heavily from Germany’s. – Enshrined concept of kokutai, “national polity.” – Stressed the emperors and relationship between emperor and the people. Emperor embodies kokutai – Military and state serve him directly. Bicameral parliamentary body called the Diet. – Upper House of Peers – Lower House of Representatives.

Rights and duties of subjects were outlined by the new constitution. Two political parties were created. – Kenseito (Liberal Party), later called Minseito. – Seiyukai, the Constitutional Government Party.

Mutsuhito, the Meiji Emperor, 1852 (1867) – 1912 “Enlightened Rule”

Yoshihito, The Taishō Emperor 1876 (1912) – 1926 “Great Righteousness”

Hirohito, the Showa Emperor 1901 (1926) – 1989 Regent from 1921 “Abundant Benevolence"

Japan encouraged accommodation to Western culture. – Mandated Western clothing briefly, then allowed it as an option. – Victorian values, and a more public role for women adopted. Education reform encouraged literacy. Formal barriers between peasants and samurai were eliminated. Thousands of Japanese students studied in Europe and the United States. By 1880s a university system was established that taught Western medicine, science, and technology.