East meets West: Japan

Part Five: Modernisation

Talking point: Fashion in Meiji Japan

Review: Who are these people?

How are they connected?

Who?

Relationship?

Feudalism abolishedMass education based on German systemSamurai privileges abolishedSamurai cannot wear swords in publicJobs open to all

Charter OathThis simple five point statement abolished feudalism

Iwakura Mission 1871-73The first Meiji investigation of European and

American institutionsThe mission included a number of Meiji

government ministersSought info on technology, education, the armyWere very impressed with Europe and USA –

increased pressure for modernisation

Iwakura Tomomi is wearing traditional clothes

Japanese education 1890s

The Armed Forcesmilitary conscription was introducedWestern experts were imported to

create new railways, armies, fleets, and industries

Navy based on Britain’s systemArmy based on Germany’s system

Politics: the ConstitutionAn authoritarian Constitution based

on German model 1889, establishing the Diet (parliament)

Only 1% could voteBy 1871 the daimyo domains had

been surrendered to the throne and turned into prefectures with governors

Oligarchy: the GenroReal power exercised by an

informal Choshu and Satsuma oligarchy called the Genro

They controlled politics and big business

The Sat-Cho elite = oligarchsThe Emperor “reigned but did

not rule” despite the constitution

ReligionShinto replaces Buddhism as the state religionWhy?

Samurai 1870s

He has cut off the top knot

Why?

Another zen moment

The EconomyZaibatsu: family businesses with close

links with the government and militaryMitsubishiDiversified conglomeratesEventually the big 4 dominated over

50% of stock exchangeJapan did not rely on foreign investment

ReviewSamurai replaced by modern conscript

armyabolished hereditary rights 1871 rapid industrialisation built a modern nation-state ended feudal divisions in societya western style constitution but…real power in the hand of Sat-Cho elders

– the Genro

Is Japan now Westernised?

Meiji Emperor receiving the Order of the Garter 1906