Japan, an isolated island located in the Pacific Ocean in East Asia,
surprised the world when it first opened its doors to Western
influence in 1854. While it had a strict policy about maintaining its
isolation, it had no choice but to succumb to imperialism. When
Commodore Matthew Perry visited, Japan realized that isolation had
resulted in their inability to develop economically and militarily
with the industrialized world. Thus from 1854 to 1914, the Japanese
changed from being under the influence of imperialism to becoming an
imperialist nation, as well as coming out of feudalism and going to
into modern militarism. Despite all these changes in its economy and
military, Japan had managed to consolidate its power under one single
ruler, whether it is the shogun, the emperor, or the military general.
From the start of 1854 to the end of 1914, Japan changed from being
threatened to trade with the West to aggressively embracing
imperialism. After Commodore Matthew Perry’s initial visit, Japan was
faced with no choice but to open trade, for it was presented with the
threat of destruction. This can be seen in the Treaty of Kanagawa,
which opened diplomatic ties between the U.S and Japan. Eventually,
more similar treaties were signed in favor of these Western countries.
Japan at that time was under the influence of these countries.
Eventually, however, Japan began its own imperialism over China, Korea
as well as parts of Russia. Japan not only became an imperial power,
but it became a world power after driving out the Russians and
asserting its hegemony in Nanjing as well as in Manchuria. Through a
period of rapid industrialization and development, the Japanese
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...ned in the Japanese political system. The reason why Japan favored autocracy is because it exhibits greater variation in economic growth rates than do either partial or full democracies. For example, under militarism and aggression, it was easier to modernized since the state controlled the economy. This system of government also gave Japan an advantage over its people by placing a strict policy to crush any resistance.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. During this time period Japan underwent some signifcant changes while at the same time maintaining its autocratic rule over its people. For example, Japan went from being threatned by Europeans to becoming one of the world powers. Despite all this, Japan still had an emperor and authoratative rule was preserved .
Japan led a ruthless assault in the Pacific for fifteen years. This small island was able to spread imperialism and terror to neighboring countries through means of force and brutality. Japan even attempted to combat and overcome European and Western countries such as Russia and the United States. Even with an extreme militaristic government, Japan was unable to achieve the glory it was promised and hoped for. The Pacific War analyzes Japan’s part in the war and what the country could have done to prevent such a tragedy.
In the early 1800’s, Japan had blocked off all trade from other countries. Foreign whaling ships could not even reload or repair their ships in Japan territory. This offended many other countries. In 1852, Matthew Perry was sent to Japan to negotiate open trade. Japan felt threatened by the United States, and gave in to their demands. Japan was frightened by their stipulations, and immediately began to reform. They developed a new education system that was similar to America and Europe’s. They also developed a Western style judiciary system.
The signing of the US treaty by Townsend Harris in 1858 opened more of the Japanese ports to trade, and also fixed tariffs. “The West made the Japanese agree that Western countries would determine import tariffs. This place, Japan at a distinct economic disadvantage in its ability to be competitive domestic or internationally.” (Woods, SW. (2004).
The government was forced to create a national parliament called the Duma. This paved the way for more peasant reforms and an increase in production. Japanese revolts ensued with the opening of Japan to the Western World. The middle and lower classes wanted Japan to be open, while the conservative daimyo did not. Both of these groups looked to the emperor for a decision.
A representative government came into being in Japan, for the government was headed by the Cabinet and the Lower House was given the power to approve laws and government budget. The Japanese were represented in government eventually, though to what extent could they affect the government policies was not known. Nonetheless, the Constitution did open the way to some popular participation in the government. To establish a central government, th... ...
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 an 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. From around 1920 a democratic movement gained strength.
During the 19th Century, China and Japan each responded differently to western penetration. China was against industrializing and did not want to create an empire like those of the western empires. Japan however learned that if they wanted to survive they had to adopt the changes that the western empires were adopting. Japan began to create an industrialized society and soon became one of the major industrial powers. China went through many rebellions and finally decided to industrialize just enough to be able to fight off the western empires. However, they did not industrialize fast enough or big enough, and they could not defeat the west. Although they responded differently, both China and Japan were affected by western penetration economically,
Imperialism has not only influenced colonial territories to better themselves or to further the mother country’s realm of power, it also had a significant impact on the people’s culture, education, environment, and political systems. Japan and Britain were two imperial systems that countered each other in many facets but also had strikingly similar qualities that had helped them become strong imperial powers that needed one another to continue their position amongst others. The Japanese empire was an inspirational country to other Asians that spearheaded the fight against the European imperialism. After the Meiji restoration, the emperors decided that the modernization of Japan was going to begin and in order for it to be a success, the government had to change along with their culture, “.restored authority faced new dangers in a new age.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Chinese and Japanese faced much internal conflict, but while China faced a combination of economic setbacks and political weakness, the Japanese were riddled with wars along their countryside. First, the Chinese emperor was too weak in comparison to his bureaucracy, which ended up making most of the decisions for the last Ming dynasty emperor. This was due to the emperor’s realization that having a title as Son of Heaven did not mean he had all the power of the empire. Instead he lived a laid back life where the bureaucrats vied for power and wealth amongst themselves and he merely managed them. Like the Chinese, the Japanese also saw elites battling it out for power, but this time on the battlefield with armies of samurai. These battles put Japan in a period much like the Warring States period in early Chinese history, where families fought and fought for power almost endlessly. The political weakness in China contributed to its economic failure as well. With no force to manage to seas, pirates were free to raid trade ships and villages along the coast line, weakening the Chinese economy that relied on a transport system to supply the country. These two major forces led to China’s fragmentation and eventual takeover by the Manchu. In contrast, the battles happening in Japan were not harmful to the economy as much as they were in China. This is due to the fact that the Japanese daimyos were independent...
This period lasted through the reign of the Meiji Emperor (Pictured right). At the start of his reign, Japan had a weak military, the main industry being agriculture, and almost no technological advancement. By the time of the death of the emperor in 1912, Japan had a centralised, bureaucratic government, a constitution with an elected parliament, well-developed transport and communication systems, a highly educated population, a rapidly growing industrial sector based on the latest technology and a powerful army and navy. This rise in power scared several European powers and established the Japanese as an unwanted equal of the European powers. With this change in government and social thinking, the Japanese themselves gained personal public freedom from the feudal ways of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The first event that started the Meiji restoration was one that was oppressive but set for...
Japan, home of some of the largest multinational technology corporations in the world, has been influenced in myriad ways through globalization. The effects of globalization on Japan provide valuable insights into the transformation of Japanese society. Global processes have increased wages and homelessness, strengthened environmental management programs, shifted governance towards regionalism, and threatened linguistic diversity in Japan.
It is interesting to find that only some political economists emphasize the fact that Japanese colonialism in Korea played a large part in the development of a high-growth economy. In both readings we get to see that Japanese colonialism greatly differed from European colonialism. In one way, this is because European colonialism rarely introduced heavy industry into the economy, or even pushed the economy with such a heavy hand. As well, Japan left Korea with a relatively high level of industrialization, not something we commonly see with European colonialism. In Kohli's article we see that Japan came into Korea at the very beginning of its colonial rule and transformed the state, not just when creating speedy economic growth.
...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.
Japan is a large island off to the east of China it is a great country that has a rich culture. The Japanese religion is based off of two main beliefs, the belief in Shinto and Buddhism many Japanese people believe consider themselves both. The Japanese people were known to be around as early as 4,500 B.C. They have constructed their government style to a constitutional monarchy where they do in fact have an emperor, but he has limited power within the country. The main power of the country is held by the Prime Minister of Japan. Japan is made up of many islands that extend along the Pacific coast of Asia. The land area is made up of a lot of forest and mountainous area that cannot be used for agricultural, industrial or residential use. Japan also has one of the largest and growing economies in the world. They are growing every day and it is all because the people of Japan work very hard in order for their economy to flourish as it has.
The basic concept of the constitutions is that all citizens are equal before the law and Emperor Mutsuhito have the absolute power. The Imperial Diet had two houses with coequals power – House of Representative and House of Peers. Here, Diet played their role in the legislative such as approving the government legislations, initiating law and lastly, make representations to the government. Nonetheless, although the emperor was said to be the head of the state, the power of the authority was actually in the hand of the elder stateman also known as the Genro. The role of Genro are to determine the institutions, political stability, foreign approval and national pride. Additionally, they are considered as the founding fathers of Japanese’s modernization. Nonetheless, through the command of Genro, Japan had recovered of its foreign trade and legal system. That is by seizing control of Korea and Liaodong Peninsula in Southern Manchuria after defeating the Chinese in Sino-Japanese War in 1895. However, Japan realized that they were still incompatible with the West when the triple entente forced to return the Liaodong Peninsula. Ever since, Japanese imperialism and military expansion were intense to achieved their sovereignty. Subsequently, after the Meiji era ended in 1912, Japan had a highly centralized bureaucratic government and had a civilized population free from