What is special about Japan?
The richest, most successful non-western
society.
The strongest democracy in Asia.
Origin of Modern Japan
1. Traditional Values
a. Chinese influence (after 7th century)
Confucian values
centralized administration
hierarchical society
personal connections
family, group orientation
b. Buddhism, Shinto
c. Militarism
d. Asian agrarian society, many people,
little land, surface irrigation, village life
group spirit
2. The Meiji Restoration (1868)
-- Resist Imperialism
After
European Imperialism spread from continent to continent
After the
scare of the British-China Opium War, 1840
After Admiral
Perry came to Tokyo, 1853-54
a. centralized state
b. social equality, education, mass
army, repress samurai revolt
c. industrialization for military
strength
government leadership of economy
use western technology
bring in experts, sent students abroad, buy licenses
d. 1889 constitution
linked to Bismarck's Germany, autocratic
e. Create an Empire
Taiwan (1895), Russia (1905) 1
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Korea (1910), China (1932-45) ( 1
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Pearl Harbor (1941)
3. U.S. Military Occupation
1. Political structure
1947 constitution
Basically British
Article 9: the Peace clause
2. U.S. culture
3. peaceful trade instead of war