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Imperial Pageants: A Sense Of National Simultaneity

Decent Essays

Imperial pageants, such as the Meiji Constitution’s Promulgation ceremony and the emperor’s 25th wedding anniversary began in 1889 (Fujitani 207), contributed to the sense of membership in Japan. Transportation and media were necessary to keep citizens informed on events without being in Kyoto or Tokyo (ibid). These technological advances created a “sense of national simultaneity” (Fujitani 202) throughout the nation and was a somewhat sufficient way to have the citizens believe in the new traditions of the Meiji era (Fujitani 202-203). For those that did not live in major cities like Kyoto and Tokyo, where these extravagant events took place, ceremonies and festivals had been created to celebrate the imperial events (Fujitani 207). These festivities

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