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MEIJI PERIOD (1868-1912) Background The Tokugawa Shogunate had proved that it was stubborn. So stubborn,
in fact, that it had ruled for 250 years. This meant that Japan was still
closed off to foreigners, and still in a feudal system. While a select
few daimyos (nobles) lived in luxury, most of the population was not so
lucky. Which, of course, is quite usual for a feudal system. However,
all of this was about to change. *DUN DUN DUN!* In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Edo Bay. He had been sent
by America to force Japan to open up trade. Many common people probably
thought this would be great, but Those in Charge… Well, they were
perfectly happy where they were. So, they sent Perry merrily on his way.
He promised he would return in a year, and that they should consider their
answer. When Perry came back, he brought with him more warships. Basically, he
told the Japanese, “Trade with us or be blown up.” Needless
to say, Those in Charge decided they liked their lives more than anything
else. They nodded and welcomed the Americans. And lo, the peasants rejoiced.
They, along with several daimyos, began putting pressure on the emperor
and the shogun to introduce more western ideas. Finally, the shogun’s
troops were destroyed, and a new emperor, Meiji (then known as Mutsuhito),
was put in power. And lo, there was more rejoicing. The capital was moved from Kyoto to Edo. Edo was then renamed Tokyo (literally,
“Eastern Capital”). The emperor then set about changing everything
radically, which is exactly what he was put in power to do. He promised
government reforms, and signed treaties with many other countries. Schools Emperor Meiji stressed education greatly. Schools now taught many western ideas. The teachers were expected to dress in western clothes, and be well educated in western subjects. Children who couldn’t go to school during the Tokugawa Period now could. I’m sure they were thrilled at the time, but… Nevermind, you didn’t just hear that. Parents of those children were generally from the lower classes, and wanted their children to get a good education so that they could succeed. This could be why even today, Japanese students work very hard. They had good reason to work hard, too. Without knowledge of the western world, they'd probably never succeed in this new Japan. |