At the dawn of the 20th century, Japan began a rapid social, political, and cultural transformation under the pressure of a threatening Western gaze. In a complex overturn of traditional Japanese values, the Meiji government abolished feudalism and produced a centralized administration where power laid with an oligarchy of wealthy businessman and former nobles (Ebrey, 336). Beyond a governmental overhaul, however, Japan also imported Western military technology, legal norms, constitutional thought, dress, financial structures, dress, and food. Through an oligarchy whose control allowed for a Western renovation of factories and schooling systems, Japan completed its transformation into a modern, industrialized society as epitomized in Naomi, …show more content…
Following the overthrow of the shogun, a small group of men began the implementation of programs that eradicated status distinctions and established broad civil and criminal codes following Western guidelines, where the law did not distinguish between classes. Projects that involved the building of telegraph lines and railroads were initiated for the sake of furthering communication and fostering unity (Ebrey, 340). By establishing state control over certain arms-related industries, the oligarchs fortified the Japanese military with advanced, expensive Western technologies. The government extended the invisible hand into social and cultural affairs as well; traditional Japanese hairstyles were outlawed in an effort to force citizens into a mass gravitation towards Western dress (Ebrey, 337). Ultimately, Japan’s modernization was only successful because its government was able to extensively control economic industries and social norms in a way that encouraged citizens to embrace Western …show more content…
In the novel, Joji, a respectable man in his 20’s, quickly falls under the spell of Naomi, who begins the tale as 15-year-old siren. During the years in which she gradually comes to dominate him, she and Joji demonstrate a desperate yearning to appear Western and engage in Western practices, perhaps an allegory for Japan’s avid interest in Western ideals and fashions at the time. From the start, Joji expresses that his initial fascination with Naomi came about as a result of her sophisticated, Western name, which he claims caused her “to take on an intelligent, Western look” (Tanizaki, 4). As Naomi develops, she takes on the persona of the modan garu, a promiscuous woman who smoked, drank, and had both an income and an education. This sexual liberation paralleled Western lust for flappers and actresses such as Mary Pickford. In addition, Naomi personifies Japan’s new consumerism in her constant consumption of everything from food and clothing to Western culture and sex. The sheer desires of Naomi are overwhelming; Joji’s house is described as being overflowing with all of her “new and different” Western clothing (Tanizaki, 45). Her promiscuity with regards to white men also point to a fixation on Western products and people, a type of consumption that came at the sacrifice of her reputation. As Naomi’s
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
Initially Japan’s objective for industrializing was to avoid being overtaken by Western superpowers, however during the process of industrializing the Japanese government realized that industrialization is key in order to remain a dominant force in the market during this new contemporary era. Thus the Japanese began to promote industrialization in order for national prestige, power, and wealth just as Germany did. In the end both countries were successful from modernizing and industrializing. Thus promoting the increase of power and wealth for members of the higher classes. While having generally negative effects on the members of lower classes.
In many movies Asian women are sexually stereotyped as “exotic, subservient, compliant, industrious, and eager to please.” If not that, Japanese women are shown to be “inherently scheming, untrustworthy, and back-stabbing.” Whichever representation is used ...
In 1900 Britain was in many respects the world’s leading nation, enjoying a large share of world trade, a dominant position in the international money market, and possessing a far flung empire supported by the world’s most powerful navy. Japan was a complete contrast, sharing with Britain only the fact that it too was a nation of Islands lying off the shore of a major continent. Until the 1860s it had possessed a social and economic structure more akin to that of feudal, rather than twentieth century, Europe. By the 1990s, the positions were almost reversed. This paper sets out to examine the contrasting democratic political systems of the two nations and to explore the social and democratic consequences of the changes that have occurred.
To fortify their nations, Japan and the Ottoman Empire underwent modernization and reformations between 1850 and 1914. At the start of the reforms both regions efforts at modernization were defensive, and both regions adopted Western elements into their society. Nonetheless, Japan worked to become a more industrialized nation, dissimilar to the Ottoman Empire, which was unable to create an industrial economy or strong state. Differences are also apparent during this modernization where women in the Ottoman Empire experienced greater opportunities than women in Japan who were suppressed in both public and political life. The efforts made in modernizing and creating reforms during the nineteenth century were defensive in both regions.
Woman qua meat is a reiterated conceit”. There is a great deal of truth to Cornyetz’s criticism of women being metaphors for meat and vice versa. Jane herself pitched the “Wife of the Week” featured in the show as “appetizing…the Meat Made Manifest: ample, robust, yet never hard to digest” (Ozeki, 8.2). The show’s goal is to promote masculine American beef to female Japanese consumers (Chiu). In My American Wife, women are relentlessly being linked to meat and Cornyetz also goes further to suggest that they are being linked to “capital – as objects for (male) sexual consumption”. This expansion of Cornyetz’s argument is important since it highlights the depiction of both meat and women in a pornographic light and represents the insinuation of a fractured America (Chiu, 112.1); as “appetizing” (Ozeki, 8.2).
Throughout time, society has shaped our attitudes about appearances, making it perfectly normal and even encouraged, to be five feet ten inches and 95 pounds. People have felt trapped by this ideal. Society has made these beauty standards unattainable, therefore making it self defeating. This is evident in A Doll’s House, where the main character, Nora, feels trapped by Torvald and society’s standard of beauty. The ideal appearance that is prevalent in society is also apparent in the novel, The Samurai’s Garden, where Sachi is embarrassed of the condition of her skin due to leprosy and the stigmas associated with the disease.
Feudalism was a large part of both Japanese and European society. Land was the basis of the feudal system. The concept of feudalism in Europe and Japan began around the same time and the relationship between lords and their vassals were about the same in both societies. However, in Europe, the lord and vassal relationship was more of a legal contract, yet in Japan it was morally binding. The fragmented and decentralized nature of government made the European feudal system less organized than its Japanese counterpart. Increases in trade led to the development of m...
In the late nineteenth century, Japan’s economy began to grow and industrialize. Because of the scarcity of natural resources in Japan, they relied on imported materials from other countries. In September 1940, the United States placed an embargo on Japan by outlawing exports of steel, iron, and aviation fuel, because Japan took over north...
Tsuzuki, Chushichi. The Pursuit of Power in Modern Japan, 1825-1995. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Questia. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
Though it seems that it was the Western influence that set off this revolutionary change, a more scrutinizing look into Japanese society at the time reveals that Japan was in fact on the brink of supplanting the fixed, hierarchical Tokugawa order for one that was better suited for its fast evolving, capitalistic society. As historian David Lu states, “Our people began to discover [modern civilization’s] utility and gradually and yet actively moved towards its acceptance. However, there was an old fashioned and bloated government that stood in the way of progress.” (Lu, 351). Therefore in a way we can view the intrusion of Western powers in Japan on that infamous July day in 1853 as an event that occurred during a time when Japan was ready for a world renewal, and not a direct and complete cause of modernization of Japan; in fact it was Japan’s revaluation of modernization and what it meant to be Japanese amidst strong western influences that eventually ...
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.
In the late nineteenth century Japan was in the midst of rapid transformation that began with the Meiji restoration, the new leaders of the time sought to achieve major political, economic, and social change in order to align with the seemingly more developed western powers. One of the most influential and appealing theories coming out of the West at that time was Social Darwinism, or more specifically, an application of biological concepts of natural selection and survival of the fittest to sociology and politics. This progressive thinking saw the development and legitimization of social hierarchy and “the divisions between populations of human beings, although socially constructed and transmitted, came to be perceived as ‘natural’ and inevitable”
...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.
Our preliminary class gave a brief, yet detailed outline of major events affecting the East Asian region. Within that class, prompted by our limited geographical knowledge of Asia, we were given a fundamental explanation of the geographical locations of the various events taking place in the region. In subsequent classes, we were introduced to the major wars, political shifts, and economic interests which shaped Japan, China and Korea to what they are today. We examined the paradigm of pre-modern Japanese governance, the Shogunate, and the trained warriors which defended lord and land, Samurai. In addition, we examined the socio-economic classes of Medieval Japan, which included the Samurai, peasants, craftsmen, and the merchants. We also examined pre-1945 Japan’s policies toward foreign entities, notably the Sakoku Policy, which sought to expunge all foreign presence and commerce in an effort to protect its borders and culture. 1945, however, saw ...