Japan is not only a major economic power, it is one of the most economically developed countries in the world. Japan’s economic development begun between the 12th and 17th century, in a period of time that the Japanese refer to as the Edo period. Although specific economic structures didn’t exist at the time, the conditions, both socially and politically, set the Japanese up for a later successful industrialization and modernization. During the Edo period, the ruling government was known as the bakufu. The bakufu had absolute political power over smaller, local governments, however, they lacked a consistent economic stance. Therefore, the local governments, known as the han, were allowed to decide how their people would be taxed, and how administration would work, along with education, industrialization, and issuing paper currency as long as it was not directly prohibited by the bakufu. …show more content…
Many peasants worked on farmlands, from which they were usually taxed rice, and although they were not officially allowed to leave, many relocated to avoid high tax burdens. Agricultural expansions led to various rebellious acts from farmers who were unhappy with taxes, government officials, and inflation. The government at the time received funds from the rice tax, a monopoly on mining, foreign trade, and financial contributions from merchants seeking monopoly and cartel rights. Due to an increasing economy and the demand of resources from merchants, the government had to resort to printing a financial currency, which leads to inflation, increase taxes and cut spending. Towards the end of the Edo period, the bakufu monopolized foreign trade, rendering it impossible for any Japanese to leave Japan and gain knowledge or trade with other countries. After much disagreement, the Japanese government decided to reopen trade with diplomatic countries such as the United States, and the bakufu government was removed from
With the change of government in Japan, economic change soon followed. Banks were founded to invest in capital, railways and steam boats were developed, restrictions on trade such as tariffs and guilds were removed, and land was re-distributed. These reforms helped spur the Industrial
During the sixteenth century, both the Ottoman and Tokugawa Japanese empires had political and economic similarities and differences. Politically, these empires were alike because both had centralized bureaucracy but different because they had very distinct ways of keeping order within their empires. Economically, they were similar because both depended on trade yet different because of their willingness to trade. After close analysis the Tokugawa Japanese empire was more successful economically.
The system’s notable elements mainly consisted in anti-labor and pro-business policies that protected the home market from outside influence with low levels of social welfare spending, making Japan pass through a growth period though, at the same time, such system presented cases of Diet’s unconstitutionalism, corruption scandals, and a lack of organization in more than one aspect.
Although Japan changed in many ways from 1853 to 1941, there were also many factors that remained the same throughout the history of Japan. One such continuity was the maintained existence of a figurehead ruler controlled by other political authorities. The feudalistic emperor of Japan was the supposed “highest, most powerful authority” in the land, but was actually controlled by the military leaders- the shogun. Similarly, the militaristic emperor of Japan decades later continued to remain a figurehead ruler controlled by military and government officials. In addition, Japan continued to remain reliant on exports in order to maintain its economy. As a result of Japan’s small geographical size, the island nation had few natural resources and was forced to rely on exports to survive economically. The nation also grew increasingly reliant on other nations to provide materials and supplies that it could not provide for itself. This complete reliance on other nations was seen illustrated when the Japanese military was provoked to attacking another superpower- the United States, in response to the 1940 United States embargo
The Tokugawa period or otherwise known as the Edo period has been recognised as an extremely significant aspect of Japanese history and left history changing effects on the country. In this essay, five primary aspects of the Edo period, which has helped produce present day Japan and had greatly impacted on the nation during this period will be addressed:
Feudal Japan had a very weak central government. Japan’s emperor didn’t have much real power. He acted as a figurehead to the shogun. The shogun, a warlord, had all the
The working poor which made up the majority of the Japanese citizens were not allowed to become involved in any non-agricultural economic pursuits. Therefore, maintaining constant and traditional Japanese values, yet the Dutch whom were the only foreign power allowed to trade with the Japanese at the port of Nagasaki warned the shogunate that they would have to “accede to foreign demands.” Many young scholars and the samurai class agreed with the Dutch logic in that it is not smart for the Japanese to become stagnant while the rest of the world is booming a merchant dominated economic system. Many scholars such as Fukuzawa Yukichi were worried about the state of the government and stated “I was mortified when I thought over the possible outcome of national exclusiveness.” This hindrance by the government in order to preserve the traditions of Japan irked the citizens in that the “stability” of the shogunate was regression as a culture rather than progress which is what most felt that the government should be striving
Japan was more concerned about keeping order. This helps prove that the differences between European and Japanese feudalism made limited government more likely to develop in the West because order is should be the main priority of a government. “There are also reports [of] vagabonds from gangs[,] [who] treat villages as if they were their own possessions.”7 This helps prove that Japan was more concerned about keeping order because Japan doesn't want people who wander around from place to place causing disorder. With these vagabonds all around the streets, Japan would be very disastrous. “When a newly appointed governor travels to....[where] he is assigned, some of his entourage and other followers either rob things from other [people] or engage in quarrels[.]”8 This helps prove Japan was more concerned about keeping order because if the government is the one who is causing the crimes, it would give people the idea that it is OK to do it also, which may cause an increase in crimes and violence. The governor's entourage is supposed to be keeping order but they are the ones who are robbing people and also causing commotions with others. The government is being a bad role model. They are supposed to set a good example but now,
The primary beneficiaries of the emerging money economy were the merchants. Daimyo and samurai traded their rice for money with the merchants who soon became very rich. Merchants, cashing in on daimyo debt attained positions of authority within the daimyo households. Many were living lavish lifestyles only dreamt of by samurai. This caused resentment in Japanese society because, although they were socially inferior, merchants enjoyed an elevated status economically (Kunihiko 1997). Perhaps the social class that suffered the most indignities was the samurai who, lacking the means to earn a living on their regular income, indulged in the lifestyle of Edo. Many had to resort to engaging in handicraft for income vice training at the martial arts thus leading to inherent corruption (Nobumitsu 1997).
At this time Japan was under the rule of
The Meiji government had changed the whole country by eliminating the old class system. (Getting rid of samurai titles and daimyos) By doing this, people were considered equal and would be able to take careers should they decide to. The Meiji government needed to unite the country as well and by getting the domains back from former daimyos, this would create a sense of unity rather than separation by the Tokugawa’s who firmly believed it was easier to rule daimyos by separation.
During the Tokugawa era Noh continued to be an aristocratic art form supported by the shogun, the feudal aristocrats or daimyo, as well as several wealthy and more sophisticated commoners. While kabuki and joruri, popular to the middle class, focused on new and experimental entertainment, Noh strived to preserve its established high standards and historic authenticity and remained mostly unchanged throughout the era. To capture the essence of performances given by great masters, every detail in movements and positions is reproduced by others, generally resulting in an increasingly slow, ceremonial tempo.
In the Edo Period, by UsHistory, the main idea was about the peaceful but busy in the Edo Period. The main idea, or the theme, was shown many different ways, for example, busy streets, plays, and food on both sides of the road. The houses were very compacted together and people on the streets. Quoting the article, “Busy streets crowded with pedestrians. Shopping opportunities for all budgets, from large merchant houses that pamper their clientele to vendors hawking their wares on the street. Events for all during the day followed by a vibrant nightlife after the sun goes down. A lively theater scene, with superstars in top acts playing to packed houses.” It was also a very busy era because the merchants, shops, and entertainment were blooming,
Japan emerged from the Tokugawa-Meiji transition as the first Asian industrialized nation. Domestic commercial activities and limited foreign trade had met the demands for material culture in the Tokugawa period, but the modernized Meiji era had radically different requirements. From the beginning, the Meiji rulers embraced the concept of a market economy and adopted British and North American forms of free enterprise capitalism. The private sector — in a nation blessed with an abundance of aggressive entrepreneurs — welcomed such change.
The early 1890s in Japan was a time when the country was experiencing major growth and economic expansion. The political scene was far from stable. The demise of the Tokugawa period and the unsettling establishment of the Meiji Restoration remained fresh in people's memories. The transformation of the former Samurai class into paragons of civic society was already well established and the abolition of the four feudal classes emancipated and liberated the nation. The former Samurai, previously repelled by the thought of handling money or finances (the domain of the vulgar merchant class) now slid comfortably in to key financial and banking positions, comforted by the thought that they would be serving the Emperor and the