Japan During The Meiji Period

Before an American naval commander “opened” Japan, the country was extremely isolated. Interaction with other nations was limited. Trade was discouraged in society due to Neo-Confucian

Part two included the following four chapters that the Dower depicted the characteristics and assumptions that Westerners had on Japanese in particular, but included other races likewise. Chapter four examined Westerners’ association of Japanese with animals, restated that they were considered differently than their German and Italian allies, who were still considered as “people” and treatment dependant on individual behaviors. These discrimination applied to Japanese Americans, who were American citizens, also (Dower 78, 82). Chapter five studied reasons the term “lesser men” and “supermen” were given to the Japanese. Before Pearl Harbor, Westerners devalued the Japanese culture, for not having “uniqueness”, as well as its military strength, because of unimpressive performance in imperialism in its occupied colonies (i.e. China, Korea) (95, 98). Because of these arrogant

The death of emperor Hideyoshi and subsequent ascension to the throne of Hideyori in 1598 set into motion events that would alter the political landscape in Japan for the next two hundred and fifty years. Tokugawa Ieyasu, in his quest to become absolute ruler of Japan defeated Hideyori loyalists in the battle of Sekigahara and was appointed Shogun by Hideyori in 1603. This military “coup d’état” effectively gave Tokugawa complete control of Japan and reduced the emperor to little more than a figurehead in the governing of Japan. As history would show, the feudal system of government that Tokugawa created ultimately led to

Arthur Walworth's 1946 work, Black Ships Off Japan: The Story of Commodore Perry's Expedition, was released in the immediate aftermath of World War II, near the beginning of the American occupation of Japan. Walworth writes his account of Perry's expedition as objectively as possible given the relatively limited sources available in English at the time. The work goes into considerable detail in describing Perry's 1852-1853 visit, illustrating not only the minutiae of the diplomatic maneuvering, but also the various formalities of leisure events and ceremonies which grew increasingly frustrating to Perry.1 Walworth briefly examines Perry's 1954 return to Japan to accept the Treaty of Kanagawa, discussing delays caused by translation

From 1641 to 1853, the Tokugawa shogun of Japan enforced a policy called kaikin. The policy declined foreign contact with most outside countries creating an isolationistic Japan. The culture of Japan developed with very limited influence from the outside world and had one of the longest periods of peace in history. During this period, Japan developed thriving cities, increased agriculture, labor, and literacy rates. On July 8, 1853, American Commodore Matthew Perry led ships into the Tokyo Bay harbor, seeking to re-establish for the first time in over 200 years regular trade between Japan and the western world. The same combination of economic desires and belief in Manifest Destiny that motivated U.S. expansion across North America also drove

The United States began to reach outward for trade, showing interest in Japan. Almost forcing the country to begin to trade with the U.S.

In Peter Duus’ Japanese Discovery of America, the author shows the learning experience that Japan went through in order to become one of the strongest countries in the early 20th century. From 1797 when the first American ship arrived in Japan, to 1879 when President Grant visited the Meiji emperor, Japan, not one of the strongest countries economically and militarily at the time, had interactions with multiple countries that included Russia, England and Portugal. However, Japan’s Confucianism belief and the development of the Tokaido Road served as roots for their quick rise to modernization. Even though multiple countries were cooperating with Japan, the relations with the United States proved to be the most

I am Marshall Barrett, an American in Japan during 1853. You are probably wondering how I got here. Well it was the early 1853 and I, Marshall Barrett age 26 was going with Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan. Before I came to Japan, I was living in connecticut close to the east coast. I was asked to come on the voyage because I am a sailor. I was very excited to to interact with Japan. I feel admired there much “simpler” lifestyle than people in America. I was a little annoyed when I had heard that America are now going out and making deals by force. Being a sailor, I have been to many different places, and through that I can say that I feel connected to people because although we look different, talk different, and act different, we are still

What did all of this have to do with the U.S.? Well, because the U.S. had ties with East Asia, politically and economically, the decisions Japan were making were also affecting the U.S. So, America took it upon itself to increase military and financial aid to China. The reason this decision was made was to cut off oil shipments and raw materials to Japan. This is what really angered the Japanese.

It is interesting to note that, despite the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans in Hawaii were not imprisoned in a large scale as they were stateside. Of the total Japanese American population in Hawaii-which made up nearly 40% of the population of Hawaii itself, and a large portion of the skilled workforce-only a few thousand people were detained. (2) The fact that so few Japanese Americans were incarcerated in Hawaii suggests that their mass removal on the West Coast was

In the 1880’s, America began seeing the first Japanese immigrants arrive in the Pacific Northwest. The Japanese came to this country searching for a better life. Many hoped to begin a new life in America where they could raise their families. There were others who came here merely to earn and save money only to return to Japan later on. The Japanese people who began their lives in America experienced little racism and discrimination, that is, before December 7th, 1941 when the country of Japan bombed the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After this event, the Japanese-American people’s lives would change dramatically.

Between 1968 and 1912, Japan was going through a reformation called Meiji Restoration in order make the country strong as western countries. It had caused changes in many parts of Japan such as society, government, military, etc. Some of these changes still can be seen in the Japanese society today such as emperors are honored by Japanese citizens and seen as a special figure. Since this reformation had a great impact on development of Japan, it can be consider as a very important part of Japanese history.This study will seek to answer the question: To what extent did the Meiji Restoration succeeded to reform and strengthen Japan? In order to answer the question, the investigation will analyze military reform and economic reform caused by

The Issei (first generation) Japanese came to the United States during the first years of the Meiji era after the Tokugawa system of economics and politics collapsed in the 1850s and 1860s. One contributing factor was the visit of an American fleet commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry whose fleet of “tall ships” demanded Japan open its doors to trade and contract with the outside world. Merchants, students and the lower economic strata of tenant farmers, agricultural labourers and owners of very small plots of land were among the first to emigrate to the U.S., mostly through Hawi’i.

Japan was affected because America's trade was vital to Japan's survival. Trade with America became limited and Japans economic prosperity was at risk. Japan needed more imports. The army decided on a militaristic option and seized Manchuria, as it had rich supplies of raw materials such as coal, iron ore, timber and rice. They believed that by expanding, Japan could become more powerful.

This research project is a detailing of Japan’s history and its relations with the U.S. The document is intended to explain the rising conflict between them during The Second Sino-Japanese War, U.S retaliation due to the attempted conquest of Asia and the Attack on Pearl Harbor, and subsequent economical and environmental complications. In terms of value, the majority of the document is relevant to my research and