An Aspect of Politics and Culture of Meiji in Japan

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Japan’s early civilization was shaped by the emergence of the Meiji era. The Meiji era started after Tokugawa Shogunate had deformed. This led to Japan’s conversion into a contemporary developed state.

The Meiji era started as a coalition involving Choshu and Satsuma known as the Satcho rebellion and was formed in 1866 (Ebley, Anne and Palais 112). The Satcho rebellion was the one accountable for conquering Tokugawa Shogunate.

The samurai’s in Japan were estimated to be 1.9 million in numbers. The government experienced a huge burden because of the stipends that were paid to the samurai. A planned course of action by the oligarchs was implemented to get rid of the samurai. They had to pay taxes on their stipends and urged to change them into government bonds.

The samurai had a privilege of bearing arms and when the government mandated every male of 21 years must pass through the army, everyone could now bear arms. This led to riots by the samurai and later on to a civil war, which was settled down by the army (Ebley, Anne and Palais 118).

The status of the samurai was abolished after this, many joined the new society and became military officers, and teachers since they were knowledgeable.

In the year 1886, April 6^th the ruler made sure that rules and regulations are introduced, moreover all matters during public conversations are dealt with and emphasized that ancient traditions are eradicated and issued an agreement by way of an oath. In 1889, Japan produced its primary constitution the European way.

The emperor was the supreme figurehead in the instituted parliament known as the Diet. Lack of unity among the members in the parliament resulted in lesser powers in the political parties. Previous feudal lords had to give back their land to the emperor to alleviate the now formed administration.

Once the land was surrendered to the administration, citizens started possessing their own land and the government imposed taxes. The education system was reformed by the Meiji regime. The French system of education was changed first, while the German system followed later.

The Meiji administration initiated universal recruitment and a new army was formed after the British convoy. Japanese intellectuals had to study overseas, moreover be taught Western science while other scholars taught in Japan. The Meiji era was serious in what they did and nothing would prevent them. This helped transform Japan’s economy from the agrarian one to the developed one.

Means of communication and land transportation were enhanced by the government through savings in the public works. After World War II, Japan evolved to an open economy.

Wages rose drastically due to industrialization talks in the Meiji regime. Establishment of a textile industry was vital since Japan had labor and cotton was a raw material. In mid 1880’s there was a financial crisis in Japan due to the huge expenses on industrialization.

Japan was involved in two major wars during the Meiji regime (Sims 12). The Sino-Japanese war between 1894and 1895 was due to divergence of interests in Korea involving China and Japan.

Taiwan and other regions from China were to be received by Japan but involvement by western powers required Japan not to accept them. Later on in 1904, there was the Russo-Japan war, which resulted from conflicts between Japan and Russia over Korea (Sims 11).

This was where the world was taken aback after the Japanese army became triumphant over the western nation. The demise of the emperor in 1912 finished the Meiji regime and the genro rule. This era saw Japan turn into a contemporary developed country. This period saw Japan grow drastically economically, socially and politically with a parliament as form governance.

Works Cited

Ebley, Patricia, Walthall, Anne & Palais James. East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History, Michigan: Cengage Learning 2008. Print

Sims, Richard. Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation 1868-2000, New York: Palgrave Macmillan 2001. Print

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An Aspect of Politics and Culture of Meiji in Japan

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