1. Part Five: Modernisation
East meets West: Japan
Part Five: Modernisation

2. Talking point: Fashion in Meiji Japan
What’s surprising about this picture from the 1890s? What does it tell us about Japan in the period after the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate?

3. Review: Who are these people?
How are they connected?

4. Who?
Relationship?

5. This simple five point statement abolished feudalism
Charter Oath
This simple five point statement abolished feudalism
Feudalism abolished
Mass education based on German system
Samurai privileges abolished
Samurai cannot wear swords in public
Jobs open to all

6. Iwakura Mission
The first Meiji investigation of European and American institutions
The mission included a number of Meiji government ministers
Sought info on technology, education, the army
Were very impressed with Europe and USA – increased pressure for modernisation

7. Iwakura Tomomi is wearing traditional clothes

8. Japanese education 1890s

9. The Armed Forces military conscription was introduced
Western experts were imported to create new railways, armies, fleets, and industries
Navy based on Britain’s system
Army based on Germany’s system

10. Politics: the Constitution
An authoritarian Constitution based on German model 1889, establishing the Diet (parliament)
Only 1% could vote
By 1871 the daimyo domains had been surrendered to the throne and turned into prefectures with governors

11. Oligarchy: the Genro
Real power exercised by an informal Choshu and Satsuma oligarchy called the Genro
They controlled politics and big business
The Sat-Cho elite = oligarchs
The Emperor “reigned but did not rule” despite the constitution

12. Religion
Shinto replaces Buddhism as the state religion
Why?

13. Samurai 1870s
He has cut off the top knot
Why?

14. Another zen moment

15. The Economy
Zaibatsu: family businesses with close links with the government and military
Mitsubishi
Diversified conglomerates
Eventually the big 4 dominated over 50% of stock exchange
Japan did not rely on foreign investment

16. Review Samurai replaced by modern conscript army
abolished hereditary rights 1871
rapid industrialisation
built a modern nation-state
ended feudal divisions in society
a western style constitution but…
real power in the hand of Sat-Cho elders – the Genro

17. Is Japan now Westernised?
What does this picture suggest about Japanese relations with European powers at the beginning of the 20th century?
Meiji Emperor receiving the Order of the Garter 1906