Meiji Restoration

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Recommended: Western civilization’s influence on Japan

The Meiji Restoration is regarded as the start of modernization in Japan. The coming of Commodore Perry in Japan converted the nation from feudalism and isolation into a world power by the twentieth century. Japan emulated the model of Western powers by industrializing and expanding its foreign influence. Japan reacted distinctly when challenged by the West. When the United States and European countries were compelling Japan to open its ports to the world in the 1850s, Japan decided to use the West as a model for their own benefit. When the emperor was restored to power, Japan modernized, militarized, and industrialized. These changes were all based on examples set by the West.

By the early 1900s, Japan became an imperial power and it spread its supremacy throughout East Asia. Japan showed that they were just as capable as the West was and they disproved the Western myth, by showing them that they were their equals. Japan was originally ruled by the Tokugawa shoguns, who dominated the nation under its rigid feudal system. In Japanese society, the warrior aristocracy, also known as the samurai class was at the top, while merchants were at the bottom. The commoners had no freedom whatsoever and they were surrounded with restrictions. They were not permitted to participate in politics.

Japan was shut off from all contact with the rest of the world. However, they were open to trade with China and also with Dutch merchants. The only reason that Japan was open to trade with the Dutch merchants was because of their relationship with the Netherlands. The Dutch merchants had asked for consent from the Tokugawa shoguns to acquire trading rights with Japan, and they had to vow that no merchants would travel inland. They also had to ...

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...fashions and manners, including the metric system and the Western calendar. The population of Japan increased rapidly and with the Meiji Restoration came a sense of pride and nationalism. The nation planned on establishing an empire and the state passed a law, which stated that everyone should revert back to the previous religion of Shintoism. In order to provide for its empire, Japan had to find raw materials and this lead to its expansion in the 1870s. Japan made Korea open its ports to trade and Japan became a large military, which was equal to that of the West. The Meiji Restoration is contemplated as the beginning of modernization in Japan and the entrance of Commodore Perry in Japan caused great changed to the nation. As the twentieth century approached, Japan became a modernized, industrial nation, which served as competition for the Western European nations.

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