The Move to Democracy in Japan

For centuries the Japanese had lived in the shadow of China; for over two hundred years they had been almost wholly cut off from the world. Now they found themselves a center of world attention, feared, admired, and imitated by backward nations seeking to benefit from Japan's example (131).

As the authors note, this rapid change brought tremendous challenges to Japan's traditional way of life and government. This occurred because in moving into the world, Japan had to deal with "Western ideas and institutions" (131) which stood in stark contrast to Japan's traditional ideas and institutions. Once the doors to the West were opened, the flood of Western influences could not be stopped. At the same time, the traditional ways of Japanese

. . .
ons. As one such ultranationalist put it: During this period we have seen the fulfillment of our national power in the decisive victories in the two major wars against China and Russia, in the annexation of Korea, the acquisition of Formosa and Sakhalin, and the expulsion of Germany from the Shantung peninsula. Japan's status among the empires of the world has risen until today she ranks as one of the three great powers (256). At the same time, the ultranationalists warned that Japan was letting foreign powers decide too many issues over which Japan should have had control, such as the "disposition of the gains of the war with Germany" (256). They also warned of domestic dangers, including the charge that Western ideas were becoming entrenched: "The growth of dangerous thought threatens social order, and our national polity, which has endured for three thousand years, is in danger" (257). Other ultranationalists called for and engaged in violence and assassination. They offered extreme recipes for a return to traditional ways: "1. Bury the traitorous millionaires. 2. Crush the present political parties. 3. Bury the high officials and nobility." At the same time, they called for universal suffrage, and the abolishment of "provi
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Charter Oath, Germany Shantung, Kita Ikki's, Meiji Era, Japan Japan, Bushido Tsunoda, West West, East West, East Asia, , national polity, universal suffrage, japan rightful leader, leader asia ultimately, war west, leader asia, foreign policy, rightful leader, japan rightful, meiji era, rightful leader asia, impossible japan continue, western powers, traditional japanese,
Approximate Word count = 2004
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

More Essays on The Move to Democracy in Japan