Urban life was exhilarating for Japan as cities began to develop in the 1890s. The major alterations were technological advancements that lead to additional job opportunities and made lives easier; however, the greater part of Japan, during the Meiji period, were not satisfied. These people were not benefiting from the changes that were occurring around them. In Mikiso Hane’s book, Peasants, Rebels, Women, And Outcastes: The Underside of Modern Japan, the first chapter depicts the morbid ways in which Japanese peasants reacted to starvation and military conscription. The next section illustrates the difficult duties of a farmer, and the third division describes the peasants’ morals. In the fourth section, Hane displays the demanding tasks …show more content…
Granted that, the farmers were also expected to sacrifice their lives and resources for the “sake of the nation.” Even though the peasants were the ones engaged in heavy labor for Japan, the profusion of wealth did not trickle down to them. No doubt, the elites at the top of the social pyramid were the superior social class who benefited and enjoyed the prosperity. In addition to hunger, the Meiji era had an abundant amount of measures that were introduced, but the compulsory military service generated the most commotion. A profuse amount of parents was opposed, for they were perturbed for their sons. A simpleton in “a booklet published in 1879” made a valid argument that it is not fair to exhort farmers into the military since they would have to “give up even their last grain of rice and receive nothing in return” (19). Asking these people, who were already on the verge of death, to die for Japan is requesting far too much. Why should an individual fight for a nation that does nothing in return for them? What is even worse is that losing a male in the household to the military conscription meant that the family was losing one pair of hands to manage the farm. If a family in poverty was already having troubles paying bills and maintaining the field, losing a worker would not improve the situation at all. In conclusion, malnutrition drives a poor person to do appalling things while military service leads to horrendous living
Both “Naomi” and “The neighbor’s wife and mine” are representative stories of westernization of Japanese culture. Naomi was written by Junichiro Tanizaki and published in newspaper in 1924. It demonstrates aestheticism and created the word naomism that represents the modern girl. The neighbor’s wife and mine is also a story that shows how Japanese people were longing to be like westerners. Both are stories of transition from classic Japanese culture to modern western style culture. I would like to describe how each story represents modernity and the difference of each women modernization.
The Fifteen-Year War was a time of great turmoil and uncertainty in Japan. Various facets of the country were tested and driven to their limits. During the occupation, race and gender began to evolve in ways that had not exactly be seen before. War had a tremendous impact on every part of the life of a Japanese citizen. Both men and women began to fill roles that were completely novel to them. Race became a part of the definition of who people were. As the war progressed and American troops landed on Japanese soil for occupation, more drastic changes occurred. Economic hardship and rations befell the people of the Land of the Rising Sun. Prostitution began to rear its ugly head and rape transpired. Through memory, research, and vivid
One of the biggest changes that happened in the Japanese society because of the Meiji Restoration was the change in social structure. Instead of being dictated their roles in life by the Tokugawa Shogunate, “millions of people were free to choose their occupation and move without restrictions” (AFA, 2014). However not all previous social roles were allowed to continue on under Emperor Meiji. The Samurai social class was made obsolete (ABC Splash, 2016). Instead a new army, modelled on the superior strength of the American army was formed. By making people free to choose their
During this time period, both India and Japan faced a new situation: the new imperialism of Europe. India was unable to defend themselves, thus leading to them becoming a colony of Britain. Japan however, selectively borrowed from the Europeans after proving themselves to be equals of the once superior Europeans. Despite having such contrasting fates, both India and Japan had similarities in the miserable work conditions for peasants. But because India was a colony while Japan was a country, India data was recorded by British officials and Japanese data was record by Japanese officials. Another difference was the source of labor for textile production. India had mostly men workers whereas Japan
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
Two women in Japan state the conditions they had during their childhoods of working in the textile factories (Doc. 3). They said that the worked in the dark and they had no strength to do any of the work. They said that in their first year of working, neither got paid and in the following years, their parents received the little money they got. They said how many people fell ill because of their conditions and having no heat in the winter. The women had first hand experiences and they were there during all of this and they witnessed everything that they described in the factories they worked in.
After centuries of living in seclusion to the outside world, the government knew that they needed the technological advancements that the West offered. The Industrial Revolution and growing urbanisation in Japan had intended to and succeeded in mimicking Western growth. Moreover, the Japanese were well-known for their diligence, discipline, perseverance, and hard work – this resulted in substantial economic development including increased shipping of commodities and a significant expansion of trade and handicraft industries. However, the political elite pocketed most of the profits through influence and corruption. Workers and farmers found it unfair that their patriotic and back-breaking labour only received a little wage in comparison, but with a state-controlled media and education system, they couldn’t make their voices heard. So overall, this collective and nationalistic open-mindedness for communal prosperity was beneficial for Japan as a whole, but the common people were disadvantaged with no access to basic human rights and a fair
In 1868, provincial rebels overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan and the new leaders called the regime the “Meiji Restoration.” This was just the beginning for soon-to-be modernized Japan. A stronger military, new ideas, technology, and laws would be all used to transform Japan into a modern industrial nation. Because of these, modernization had a great effects on Japan’s society and the nation as a whole from 1850 to 1950. One effect modernization had was strengthening international presence and relations for Japan as a whole. This helped to keep them active on global terms and impacted them in a positive manner. Another effect modernization resulted in was the transformation of the internal society of Japan. The changes in the society all provided great benefits for Japan.
Joseph Conlans “State of War; The Violent Order of Fourteenth Century Japan” is an depth look at Japans emerging warrior class during a time period of constant warfare in Medieval Japan. His work however doesn’t revolve around the re-fabrication and in-depth analysis of battles sieged like many contemporary examinations of wars and battles won and lost. Instead the author vies to navigate the reader on journey into the warrior class’s lives and how they evolved through a statistical analysis of records. This illustrates how warfare changed and transformed with the constant evolving of the Samurai, but it also includes how their actions affected their Political environment as well as the society in which they dwelled from the bottom up.
Throughout the various themes presented in The Analects, there are some particular teachings implicit within Japans feudalistic samurai society. The general discussion of virtues and morals promoted within The Analects leads the student to strive to achieve “gentleman” status or if possible “sage” status. While the broad application of these lessons did occur in Japan, there are inherent differences with its practice in China. While the movement of an individual in social and economic stature in China was based on the quality of work they were able to complete through their apparent knowledge and work ethic. The same flexibility did not apply in Japan. The rigid feudal, hereditary structure provided a lack of upward mobility throughout all of society. So the quest for personal enlightenment was checked by lack of encouragement and the void of personal independence.
With the growing underemployment of the classes came opportunity for ambitious men to carve out a place in the changing japanese capitalist economy. Many thronged to the big cities in search of wealth, and in turn, cities grew exponentially. Castle towns turned into bustling trade communities and roads leading into some of the major cities needed to cater to the needs of the traveling men. These
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
Over the past fifty years Japan has seen significant changes in all aspects of its society and the way it interacts with the outside world. For example, despite suffering a defeat in World War II, Japan soon became one of Asia’s greatest economic powers. In Japan in Transformation, 1952 - 2000, Jeffrey Kingston focuses on various aspects of change in Japanese society and politics in the period after World War II. These include the effect of the US occupation, analysis of postwar politics, the economic boom, changes in demographics, the treatment of women, and foreign policy and security issues.
The Japanese people, although of different classes, are united by a fierce pride for self and culture. Although many of the samurai are starving and poor, they are too proud to beg for food, or even accept it as payment for services rendered. Some of the samurai who refuse to help the village do so because they are too proud to work for such a lowly cause. The farmers’ pride in their village is seen through their efforts to defend their village and livelihood in the face of the bandits. This pride is even more evident as those farmers who live outside the protective wall built around the village for the battle attempt to mutiny against the samurai and defend only their homes.
Knowing how, in the end, the Japanese farmers adapted to it to shape modern day can determine the extent of the Restoration’s influences on their well-being. From xenophobia to xenophilia, western customs became popular; sitting in chairs and tables, men cutting their hair, ballroom dancing, eating beef and choices of clothing became common. These actions are still practiced in Japan, showing one aspect of every-day Japan life that was passed from the Restoration. Outside influences semi-secluded traditional authority and values - from respect, conservation and loyalty, instead it emphasized efficiency, materialism and individualism. Later on, however, the western ways were questioned and new respect for traditional culture was developed. This can still be seen how in daily-life, people are bustling around independently, but during festivals, they transition back to traditional way of celebrating; going to shrines, and having cultural centers that are frequently visited. The stabilized monetary system shifted the farmers mindset - they changed to evolve around the new standard, although made their life easier, it pressured them that nothing is as relaxed as before. Regardless, this mindset is still prevalent, hence why they are diligent workers and rose up to