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The modernization of japan during the meiji period
Meiji modernization of japan
Meiji modernization of japan
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The Empire of Japan is the historical Japanese nation-state; which is a type of state that joins the political beliefs of a state with the culture of a nation, from which it is trying to rule; and a former political power that lasted from the 1868 Meiji Restoration; which was a chain of events that re-established practical imperial rule to Japan under Emperor Meiji; to the enactment of the 1947 constitution of modern Japan. Imperial Japans rapid industrialization and militarization under the slogan translating to “enrich the country, strengthen the armed forces” led to its materialization as a world power and establishment of an empire.
The Meiji Restoration provided Japan constitution that made his government a form of constitutional and
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The Meiji Constitution consisted of seventy-six articles in seven chapters. And unlike its successor, the Meiji Constitution was founded on the principal that the emperor was ruler and his government was not of the people. While the Meiji Constitution established clear limits on the power of the emperor and gave many rights to his people, it is self contradictory and ambiguously worded in many places. This left political parties and leaders to interpret it as they saw fit. The documents ambiguity justified authoritarian or liberal-democratic rule among the states of Japan and created a power struggle within the …show more content…
In 1936 an Information and Propaganda committee was created they issued all official press statements and worked with the Publications Monitoring Department on censorship issues. Besides applying censorship to all media, the Showa Regime began issuing detailed “guidelines” to publishers. By 1938 printed media’s would come to realize that their survival depended upon taking cues from the guidelines and their interpretation on the “look” of the soldier and of war.
The 1941revision of the National Mobilization Law completely eliminated the freedom of press. All mail was subject to search. And by this point in time any rights outlined in the Constitution were heavily restricted if not removed entirely. In 1942 all newapapers were ordered to merge or cease publication. And as the war situation deteriorated the government took over the distribution of information all together. By 1944 only 34 magazines were left in publication and by 1945 only one newspaper was permitted per
...their own career path and destiny for their life.(197) This was a (new concept)** during that time period because the lower class was not always granted the same opportunities as the upper class. (197) The Meiji restoration also introduced the idea of a democratic form of government, rather than a dictatorship.(197) They actually began to give citizens a voice in government, which was an entirely new concept to the Japanese.(197) Not only were the Japanese beginning to gain more rights, but they were also beginning to accept ideas that were once looked down upon(would have never been considered), such as sports(201). The rise of baseball became really popular during the Meiji Restoration as well.(201) Overall the Meiji Restoration was a major advancement in the Japan society and it symbolized the renewal of the Japanese people and a new Japanese government.
The goals of the Meiji Restoration included dismantling of the old feudal regime and the creation of a nation-state capable of standing equal among Western powers, including the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the Unites States. The leaders of the Meiji Restoration were mostly young samurai motivated by increasing domestic problems and threats of foreign intrusion. Saigō Takamori was also an influential leader in the Meiji Restoration. He was responsible for leading several rebellions against the government in companionship with samurai warriors and peasants who distrusted the new regime. The citizens of Japan were also, arguably, influential leaders of the Meiji restoration. Under their pressure to insist on the creation of a constitutional government, the government formed a Cabinet system in 1885 and in 1886 began developing the Constitution, which would be presented as a gift from the emperor to the people in 1889 and established a bicameral parliament. Revolutionary tactics from the Meiji Restoration included the development of transportation and communication. Railroads were built, telegraphs connecting major cities, and the institution of a European-style banking system developed. We can clearly recognize differences between the revolutionary tactics of the Meiji Restoration to those in the Mexican Revolution and those in the
The establishment of the Japanese archipelago assumed its present shape around 10,000 years ago. Soon after the era known as the Jomon period began and continued for about 8,000 years. Gradually they formed small communities and began to organize their lives communally. Japan can be said to have taken its first steps to nationhood in the Yamato period, which began at the end of the third century AD. During this period, the ancestors of the present Emperor began to bring a number of small estates under unified rule from their bases around what are now Nara and Osaka Prefectures. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Tokugawa Ieyasu set up a government in Edo (now Tokyo) and the Edo period began. The Tokugawa regime adopted an isolationist policy that lasted for more than 200 years, cutting off exchange with all countries except China and the Netherlands. The age of the Samurai came to and end with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, and a new system of government centered on the Emperor was set up. The new government promoted modernization, adopted Western political, social and economic systems, and stimulated industrial activity. The Diet was inaugurated, and the people began to enjoy limited participation in politics.
When the American Commodore Perry arrived and forced the Japanese to open up trading with the Americans in 1853 it caused a massive shift in the way Japan was run. The shogun could not deal with the looming threat and began a campaign of anti-foreignism “’Toi!’ (Expel the Barbarians!)” . The shogun eventually capitulated and began to allow foreign ships into Japan; this sparked the anti-foreign element, created by the shogun, to remove the shogun and reinstate the Emperor into power: “’Sonno’ (Revere the Emperor) was added to their mantra of ‘Toi’ to represent the old system where the Emperor was like a god. The Emperor took power back into his hands and renamed himself Meiji meaning “Enlightened Rule.” However, the Emperor did not expel the ‘barbarians’, instead he saw them as a method of creating a better Japan and began a campaign known as the ‘Meiji Restoration’ to modernize the nation. Japan needed to modernize because the western countries had forced the Tokugawa shogunate to sign unfair treaties that greatly favoured the western countries, notably the United States of America, Russia, Great Britain and France . One of the key events of the Meiji Restoration was the decline and fall of the samurai class in Japan. This essay intends to show the reasons for the decline of the samurai at the beginning of the Empire of Japan through the policies enacted during the Meiji Restoration. This will be shown through the military, cultural, political and social reforms enacted by the Japanese government.
...republication question for reporter: Is this information I would like to have if I were the enemy?” (PBS – Censorship par. 2). Big secrets were kept for years from its own people as well as from other countries such as the atom bomb and about the health of Franklin Roosevelt. The media and government encouraged families to write their loved ones about anything but the war. While “civil servants were reading and censoring a million pieces of mail weekly, especially those to or from POW’s and other internees” (PBS – Censorship par 7).
By 1905 japan had become a military power capable of carving out an empire for itself. Japan did this through the Meiji Restoration which ended the reign of the Tokugawa shogun and giving power back to the emperor, the Sino-Japanese War with china in 194-1895 and the Anglo-Japanese Alliance which resulted in the Russo-Japanese war. All of these historical moments have made Japan the powerful country and empire it is now.
One hears about censorship of free word happening all the time in other countries, but did it ever happen in the United States of America? Not many people know that restriction of free speech and personal expression did in fact occur in America, mainly during the 1950s. During this tumultuous time, newfound fears of threatening outside influences, mainly political in nature, had set in and as a result the government tried to protect the American public from these “radical” ideas through the use of censorship, or a restriction in the flow of information or ideas. Working feverishly to control what they deemed inappropriate, they launched multiple programs to combat these influences. Unfortunately, the government’s reasonably good intentions warped and changed over time, and they wound up actually preventing the spread of culture and knowledge in America. This in turn had a lasting impact on the United States, both immediate and long-term. In essence, the 1950s was a time of fear, despair, and even disorder in the United States of America, as a desire to protect America led to a skewed witch hunt shown especially by the creation of the House un-American Activities Committee, censorship of literature, and censorship of music.
In Nazi Germany, it was very dangerous for reporters and press to print the truth because the government controlled what was published. Joseph Goebbles ministered what was shown to the public and controlled the mass media. He along with Hitler had a goal; to “Nazify the art and culture ...
Emperor Meiji triggered the start of modernization in Japan. He made the right decision because this helped convey to people that it was time to change and become part of the outside world. The modernized Japan had become advanced in technology, art, culture and literature, however not everyone wanted this lifestyle. Samurais who still believed in the traditional worldview fought for what they thought was right. The problem was that Emperor Meiji was set on the idea of modernization and the samurai wanted tradition and the old ways.
Russian people enjoyed the liberty to express their views in the decade of 1855 to 1865. “The press then enjoyed greater freedom” (Newth, 2002). As the years passed by of non-censorship, the image of the Russian government and leader of Tsar Alexander at first was extremely favorable (Downs, 2014). Still, soon things started to go down in later years. In 1865, the censorship came back with Russian government and Alexander wanted to keep Russian image positive. The people of Russia soon started to lose their small freedom they had with free voice. Still, there was some sort of freedom of media, but it was not entirely true. “Although freedom of the press nominally existed in the Soviet Union, the government reserved the right to prevent the publication of certain materials.” (Kassof, 2004).
The Meiji Restoration gave the Japanese society gains in economic, military and political change however lost the chance to gain Religious and social equality that other countries already enjoyed. The Restoration put Japan on a path that would lead then to have one of the top militaries, economies and education systems in the world. It would surprise the west by the time the second world war how improved the nation was. The gains experienced by the people of Japan, would soon outweigh what was lost.
The Meiji Constitution was promulgated in 1889 and was drafted most importantly by Ito Hirobumi.
...high power status, Japan had to have a self-reliant industrial common ground and be able to move all human and material resources (S,195). Through the Shogun Revolution of 1868, the abolition of Feudalism in 1871, the activation of the national army in 1873, and the assembly of parliament in 1889, the political system of Japan became westernized (Q,3). Local Labor and commercial assistance from the United States and Europe allowed Japan’s industry to bloom into a developed, modern, industrial nation (Q,3). As a consequence production surplus, and food shortage followed (Q,3). Because of how much it relied on aid of western powers, Japan’s strategic position became especially weak. In an attempt to break off slightly from the aid of the west Japanese leaders believed that it would be essential for Japan to expand beyond its borders to obtain necessary raw materials.
This essay aims to explore the necessities of censorship and the roles it plays in society. It will start by defining the term ‘censorship’ and an introduction to what is and has been censored through different periods of history. Finally, this essay will explore if there is a need for censorship in society with a focus on undesirable material and its effects on children and why.
Protecting the Innocent: An essay on Censorship What would happen if anyone in the world could obtain access to potentially dangerous information? Should this “potentially dangerous” information be concealed? Throughout history, many people have argued over whether certain material and information should be kept confidential and the verdict remains unsolved to this day. Although it is widely disputed, censorship is vital because it protects children, reduces unnecessary awareness, and protects the military.