How Did Japanese Culture Influence Western Culture

Western culture was introduced to Japan when the U.S. sent a war fleet to Japan to open up its trade with western countries. They used force get them to open up trade, and gave several gifts to the Japanese leaders. They and said that they would return in a year for their response. The Japanese government agreed to the demands, and in 1854 signed a treaty with the U.S. agreeing to open up it borders for trade. The U.S. was not the first western country to try to get Japan to open up trade, Russia had also tried but was not successful.

When Japan was first introduced to western culture, the government was changed. The first thing that was changed was the way the government was run. The Japanese government decided to abolish feudalism. From then on Japan went from a feudal society, to a society were people were free to choose their own job, and they were allowed more freedom.

The Japanese military was small, and not very powerful in

Japanese men cut their hair and started wearing western hats. They also started carrying umbrellas, and pocket watches. The Japanese military wore western uniforms. Japanese people rarely wore traditional Japanese clothing after the Westernization.

Japan's housing was also effected during this period. Their house's flooring changed from dirt to wood. Lighting changed from using rapeseed lamps to oil and kerosene lamps. Westernization also introduced idea's that were then modified. A few examples being the car which Japan has made safer.

Other parts of their culture were also affected by the westernization. Oil paints were introduced to Japan by the west, and Kawakami Togai and Takahashi were two of the most famous oil painters. Western sports were also introduced to Japan, such as baseball, football, and cricket. Their printing press, which used wooden blocks, was updated and modernized, and they translated and published western idea's and