【Japanese History Inquiry】The Dawn of Modern Japan: From the Meiji Restoration to a Modern State
Hello everyone! Today, we are entering the exciting era of "Modern Japan." The modern period marks the end of the age of the samurai and is the era when the "foundation" of the Japan we live in today was built.
You might feel overwhelmed by how much there is to memorize, but don't worry! If you view the modern era through the story of "Japan stretching itself to catch up with the West," it becomes much easier to understand. Let’s learn together and enjoy the process!
1. The Birth of a New Government and Building its "Form"
With the Edo Shogunate gone, the Meiji government was born. The first thing the government did was to unite a fragmented Japan.
① The Return of Domains and Census Registers (Hanseki Hokan) and the Abolition of Domains and Establishment of Prefectures (Haihan Chiken)
Until then, local "daimyo" (lords) controlled the land and the people, but they returned these to the Emperor (the nation). This is the Hanseki Hokan.
Following this, the government carried out the Haihan Chiken, abolishing the "han" (domains) and replacing them with "ken" (prefectures). This allowed the central government to govern the entire country directly.
Analogy: It’s like changing a company where local branch managers were running things independently into a system managed entirely by the headquarters!
② The Equality of the Four Classes (Shimin Byodo)
The status system of "Shi-no-ko-sho" (samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants) was abolished. Samurai lost their special privileges (like carrying swords or having surnames), and everyone became equal. However, for the samurai, this caused dissatisfaction, as they wondered, "What happened to our pride?"
Key Point:
Through the Abolition of Domains and Establishment of Prefectures, the government made it easier to collect taxes from across the country, securing the funds needed for modernization.
2. The Three Pillars of "Fukoku Kyohei" (Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Armed Forces)
To create a country strong enough to compete with Western powers, the government pursued three major reforms under the slogan of Fukoku Kyohei.
① The School System (Gakusei)
Believing that "the country won't be strong unless all citizens are educated," the government mandated elementary school attendance. Because tuition was expensive at the time, protests occurred (such as the "Blood Tax" riots), but this is the root of today's compulsory education.
② The Conscription Ordinance (Choyorei)
Military service became mandatory for all males over 20 years old. Until then, war was the job of the samurai, but it shifted to a system where "everyone protects the country."
③ The Land Tax Reform (Chiso Kaisei)
The tax system was completely overhauled:
・Based on land value (price of land), not harvest volume.
・Paid in cash (kinno), not rice.
・Tax rate was 3% of the land value (later reduced to 2.5%).
This allowed the government to receive stable revenue, unaffected by the weather.
Common Mistake:
It's easy to confuse "3% of land value" with "3% of the harvest." For farmers, 3% of the land value was actually a quite heavy burden!
Trivia:
When the Conscription Ordinance was introduced, officials used the term "blood tax" (ketsuzei), which caused panic among the people—they feared they would literally have their blood drained! This led to anti-conscription riots.
3. Diplomacy and Rebellion: Resistance to the New Nation
While the government pushed forward with reforms, there were people who couldn't keep up with the changes.
① The Iwakura Mission
Iwakura Tomomi, Okubo Toshimichi, Kido Takayoshi, and others traveled to the West, aiming to revise the unequal treaties. However, they were told that "Japan is not yet modernized enough." This led them to resolve that they must first fix things at home.
② The Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan Senso)
The anger of the samurai (shizoku), who had been stripped of their privileges, boiled over. Led by Saigo Takamori, the largest rebellion in Kyushu broke out. However, they were defeated by the new government army. From then on, dissatisfaction was expressed not through force, but through "speech" (the Freedom and People's Rights Movement).
4. The Freedom and People's Rights Movement and the Constitution
Voices grew louder demanding, "Don't let just a few people in the government decide everything! Open a parliament!" This was the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, led by figures like Itagaki Taisuke.
① The Constitution of the Empire of Japan
In 1889, the first constitution of Japan was finally promulgated. Based on the German (Prussian) model, it was characterized by the strong authority of the Emperor. The following year, the first general election for the House of Representatives was held, and the Imperial Diet was convened.
Memory Tip:
Remember the year 1889 with the phrase: "The Constitution made early (1889), the pride of Meiji!"
5. The Industrial Revolution and Joining the International Community
Japan also built up its economic strength. The government established government-operated model factories (like the Tomioka Silk Mill) to increase exports.
① The Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War
・Sino-Japanese War (1894): Japan defeated the Qing (China). Through the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Japan gained large war reparations and territories like Taiwan.
・Russo-Japanese War (1904): Japan defeated the major power, Russia. Through the Treaty of Portsmouth, Japan strengthened its influence over Korea.
Trivia:
The reparations from the Sino-Japanese War were used to build the Yawata Steel Works in Fukuoka Prefecture. This marked the beginning of full-scale heavy industry in Japan!
【Summary of this Chapter: Things to Remember!】
1. The Meiji Restoration was a grand reform that reset the country from the Edo period to modernity.
2. To achieve Fukoku Kyohei (enrich the country, strengthen the military), the government reorganized schools, the military, and the tax system.
3. Through the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, Japan gained its first constitution and parliament in East Asia.
4. By winning the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars, Japan joined the ranks of the world's major powers.
It might be tough to handle all these terms at first, but remember that each event is connected by the goal of "building a strong Japan." Try to grasp the big picture first. You're doing great—let's take it one step at a time!