The 1889 Japanese Constitution was Designed to Pacify the Opposition Without Deposing the Ruling Oligarchy

The concentration of power into the emperor’s hands led to many changes in the government of Japan. The samurai class was quickly abolished, a national army was formed, political parties formed, an upper House of Peers and lower House of Diet were formed, and a constitution was drafted.

Finally, while many Americans of Japanese descent were being gathered into detention centers, others were fighting overseas. Over 30,000 Japanese Americans fought in World War II and these soldiers earned many medals and awards, even the Congressional Medal of Honor, while in service for the United States.

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

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

It is clear that Japan’s ‘three unifiers’ were beneficial to the development of Japan in three fundamental areas: social, economic and political. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu are known for unifying Japan after the sengoku period (c. 1467 – c. 1603), a time of internal conflict. While each unifier had a different approach to developing Japan, the corroboration of each new policy resulted in an improved Japan which set foundations for lasting central rule.

Article 9. The Diet shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Every person shall have freedom of religious belief, and the special privileges that every shrine has ever had shall be abolished.

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 which they were required to abide to certain rules, such as with the implementation of curfews for all Japanese alike to stay in their residential

Japan accomplished something no other country had, which was staying at the same state for more than 250 years. This is why Shogun Tokugawa made the Exclusion Laws, for he saw the foreigners as a threat to his power, authority, and military control.

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 Meiji Restoration brought enormous changes in Japan's structure. It eliminated the Tokugawa Shogunate, which allowed the emperor to regain full power, and transformed Japan from a feudal system to a modern state. The new era established the Meiji Constitution, which created a new structure for the government and laws, reformed the military and education system, experienced westernization and was the catalyst towards industrialization. However, it cannot be completely considered as a revolution. Although there were changes in the nature of Japan's economic and social system, and some aspects proved itself to be a complete transformation, a few were still practiced traditionally, mainly the political structure. Also, a revolution is

The point at which the US actions were no longer neutral was probably by Japan's expansion. Neutrality was called into question as events unfolded in the last half of the 1930s. In Asia, militant nationalists began to dominate Japan's government. President Roosevelt changed neutrality, which stated that the war would spread to them even though they stay apart. Due to China getting attacked by Japan's and his bias toward the Allies which included; France, United Kingdom, and

order to prevent another World War. A lot of Japanese felt victimized because of the

Japanese success had its costs, among them poor living conditions and crowed cities. The emergence of political parties caused disputes with the emperor and his ministers, leading to frequent elections and political assassinations. Japanese nationalism built on traditions of superiority and cohesion, deference to rulers and the tension from change. Its strength was was a main factor in preventing the revolutions occurring in other industrializing nations. No other nation outside the West matched Japan’s achievement

The end of the Second World War with the surrender of Japan had many numerous reasons, also with the most basically reason was two bombing of USA on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Therefore, Japan marks the defeat of its short-lived imperial expansionist policy, and symbolize the establishment of the new constitution called” pacifist”, which limits the nature of Japanese military activity largely to defense against external attacks on Japan. However, this post-war pride pacifist constitution which has not been revised since it promulgation in 1946 has been recently harmed by the Japan Prime Minister and his ruling party whose plan was to shift it. Mr. Abe and his party is preparing to propose a constitutional amendment to the Diet after the summer