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Introduction
The period of Taisho Democracy corresponds with the duration when Emperor Yoshihito was ruling Japan. The dawn of the Taisho Democracy was marred with uncertainty because the previous emperor was one of the best that Japan has ever had. Consequently, some observers were of the view that his predecessor did not have what it took to keep the Meiji fire burning. Emperor Taisho had various factors working against him, including his health complications, and he also lacked an established legacy. Nevertheless, under Taisho Democracy Japan continued to flourish until the advent of militarism in the late 1920s.
Analysis
Life under Emperor Taisho was different for various individuals and it appeared to favor those who were in the right place at the right time. The country became more democratic because some of the decisions that traditionally belonged to the emperor were relegated to the Diet. However, as with any other nation, democracy opened up Japan to dissenting opinions and by extension political instability.
For example, the facets of life in Taisho Japan were characterized by “greater openness and desire for representative democracy, literary societies, mass-audience magazines, and a burgeoning European culture” (Takayoshi 613).
In addition, during this era, Japanese citizens could enjoy music and films that did not necessarily represent their traditions. The modernization efforts that had started during the Meiji Empire continued uninterrupted in the Taisho era. The main difference between the Meiji and the Taisho eras was that the former was authoritarian in nature while the latter was quite liberal. Those who were residing outside Japan also began to notice that the situations were changing for the Asian country. Consequently, the West was not afraid to sell its ideas to Japan during the Taisho era.
The ferment in the Taisho era was brought about by a combination of factors. However, most of this turbulence was due to the fact that the period only lasted for a short time. There is a possibility that the Taisho Democracy would have been more successful if the entire process lasted longer. The events of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 obviously have the most significant influence on Taisho Democracy. Before the earthquake, the country was accustomed to both social and political strife.
For instance, there were the rice riots of World War I, rising inflation, and high rates of unemployment. The riots came to a standstill as the city of Tokyo lay in ruins and thousands of people lost their lives. After the quake, martial law was enforced and these events took their toll on Taisho Democracy.
The early gains during the democratic era had made it easier for ordinary people to live without interference. For example, citizens’ rights to vote were liberalized and labor laws were improved. However, these gains did not guarantee their livelihoods.
The people who lived in urban areas did not reap any significant benefits from these reforms. What was remarkable was that in just over fifty years Japan had changed from an isolated country that mostly thrived on Confucian ideas, to a modern country that had completely absorbed Western ideas. Under Taisho, Japan had embraced democracy more than some nations in the world today. This is why the word ‘democracy’ is written and pronounced as a Katakana word. It was in Japan where Democracy was first embraced in its entirety by leaders who stood to lose from this system.
Works Cited
Takayoshi, Matsuo. “Taisho Democracy: Its Flowering and Breakdown.” The Developing Economies 4.4 (1966): 612-632. Print.
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