The Era of Modernization in Japan

The 19th century would be the theatre of events that would force the Land of the Rising Sun to either modernize or perish.

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STRASBOURG - For over 200 years, Japan prospered as a feudal society under the authoritarian rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Emperors of Japan still held influence as divine heads of state, but physical power was in the hands of the Shoguns - the military rulers of the country. At the beginning of their reign, the Shoguns had imposed the policy of sakoku, or closed country, which, under the penalty of death, prohibited foreigners from visiting Japan and any Japanese from leaving the country. Having done so, the indigenous Japanese culture flourished, untouched by foreign influence. However, the 19th century would be the theatre of events that would force the Land of the Rising Sun to either modernise or perish into history.

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Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0

[CaspianReport]

Link to Vincent from History of China:

[DiZeHiZe]

The modernization of Japan is a work of art, painted in blood.

[marcelo]

We appreciate every video and each narrator contributing to Caspianreport.

[tombombadilofficial]

*Open your country. Stop having it be closed*
-Matthew Perry

[EzekielDeLaCroix]

"I' found that it is far more difficult to raise a new era than it is to break an old one..." - Okubo Toschimichi in Rurouni Kenshin.

[fischlmakesmondstadtgreata]

Japan, one of the few countries which remained unconquered by the European/US Empires, during the Era of Imperialism. Instead making an incredible display of will-power and effort to become an Empire itself. It is really one of the most interesting and fascinating events in history.

Yet very similar to both the German and Italian Empires, their formation created and extreme imbalance of power which could only be solved by war, and the same ambition which created them ultimately destroyed them. But even after their complete destruction they managed to rebuilt everything even better and stand once again as major powers in the world.

[spiralsystem]

You can say this about Japan: they respect strength. By respecting strength, they master it for themselves and adapt very quickly.

[syncout]

No offence, but I think Shirhan chose Vincent to narrate because he knows he's gonna butcher the pronunciation of Japanese words haha

[TheLocalLt]

The Meiji Restoration saved Japan from ending up like China. The Tokagawa Shogunate could not have resisted foreign powers and then turned it around on them to become an empire. It would have been carved up like coastal China. Thanks to the Empire of Japan, the country ended up doing some of the carving instead of being carved. Now it didn’t end well but the empire is really what allowed Japan to avoid China’s “century of humiliation”.

[nonchalant]

”Open the country, stop having it be closed“

[WildBillCox]

A new/different narrator. I was so used to Shirhan I was at first convinced I had clicked on the wrong link. ;-) With that said, this was an excellent bridge between the history classical Nihon and that of modern Nippon. Thanks for posting!

[rogerwilco]

I find the total make-over that Japan was able to execute in 30 years to be one of the most interesting events in history. By 1900 it is a thoroughly modern (but not Western) society, with developments parallel to other modern nations at the time, like women suffrage, labour rights, the role of the media and modern comforts. They often found different solutions than those in the west, because of their unique culture.
Japan was able to do in 30 years, that which a lot of developing countries still struggle with today.

[iTuber]

@8:47 "and large sums of silver" is a MAJOR understatement.

The amount of silver they got from China was more than 3x the size of their economy.

Nice overview though

[jameslebron]

I can see certain parallels between the Japan of this period and the China of today. Enduring humiliation at the hands of Western powers, industrialisation and ambitions of regional, if not global, greatness through empire.

[johnramirez]

I really admire japan on this, the leaders are really doing things for the sake of their country not self interests.

[CCPJAYLPHAN]

As a Chinese who can speak Japanese, this guy from Caspian Report can speak Chinese and Japanese words with accuracy!

[harunsuaidi]

A total change of the society within 30 years. The social structure, the technology, the law, the direction of the nation, everything changed so fast. What a time to be alive, that was.

[MrKIMBO]

Wow. Japan learned the modernization from Europe after US Navy had used gun diplomacy.

[r-saint]

Satsuma and Choshu eventually became the core of the Imperial Army and Imperial Navy (or the other way around, can't remember). They were very distrustful of each other :D Almost enemies.

[Jobe-]

Honestly incredible how quickly Japan went from being a medieval feudal state to a modern empire in just 30 years.