Japanese Industrialization

“I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new.”

At first the Japanese were against the idea of industrializing but they soon became more willing to embrace the idea of industrializing. One factor that changed the idea of the Japanese was when Commodore Matthew Perry brought its Naval fleet into Tokyo Harbor. The Japanese were astounded by the massive ships and the military power of the Americans and realized if they were to go into battle with the Americans they would have demolished them. Perry then delivered a threatening message to the Japanese emperor and this caused the Japanese and Americans to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa. This treaty opened two ports to Americans to take on supplies in Japan and it allowed the United States to set up an embassy in Japan. The Japanese then felt as if they were loosing control of their country and under the rule of Emperor Mutsuhito Japan established a new government. He called this period of time the Meiji Era meaning enlightened rule and the Meiji Era took place from 1867 to 1912. The emperor realized the best way to oppose Western imperialism was to adopt new ways. Japans first act in the Meiji Era was they gave their land to the emperor. The next way Japan attempted to modernize was by sending people to other countries to study foreign ways and the Japanese then chose what they believed to be the best ideas and adapted them to their own country. They admired Germany’s strong centralized government and the discipline of their army. They also admired the British navy’s skill and they attempted to make these European powers ways a part of their military as they modernized. Japan also adopted the Americans system of universal public education. After adopting new ways and modernizing Japan had become a very powerful force in the world.
Japanese industrialization was a time of great progress for Japan but as always their were positive and negative effects that came with it. One positive effect of Japan’s industrialization was that they gained political stability. Before Japan industrialized they were being taken over by foreign countries and were giving everyone that came towards them extraterritorial rights and anything else they wanted. Once Emperor Mutsuhito decided to stand up for Japan he was able to establish a strong powerful government (Meiji Era) that gave them political stability. Another positive effect industrializing had on Japan was that they obtained a strong powerful warfare and armed forces. Emperor Mutsuhito did this by adopting the discipline of the armies in Germany and the skill of the British navy. By adopting these new ways the Japanese were able to gain position as an up and coming force in the world and were able to gain national pride. By the end of the Meiji Era the Japanese were one of the most powerful countries in the eastern hemisphere with their advances in politics, warfare, and economics. Although their were many positives that came out of the Japanese industrialization there was also a couple of negative effects that came only with it.
One negative effect of industrialization was that Japan became very power hungry and it caused many problems in the eastern hemisphere. Japan became interested in Korea because they could become a trading partner with them and a military outpost as well. But Japan soon realized their neighbor China was interested in Korea for the same reasons and in 1885 China and Japan came to an hands-off agreement that neither of them would send their armies to Korea. China soon broke the agreement when asked to help put down Korea’s king and Japan protested and sent its troops into Korea to fight the Chinese. This was called the Sino-Japanese War and after a few months Japan had destroyed the Chinese navy and forced them out of Korea. In 1895, China and Japan signed a treaty and soon after this Japan had begun to take over Manchuria. With Japan’s win over China it surprised the world and changed the balance power in the world to Japan and Russia. Being enemies Japan and Russia went to war over Manchuria and this resulted in the Russo-Japanese War and the in the end Japan forced Russia out of Manchuria and became basically the most powerful country in the world. Japan’s industrialization was mostly for the better but did have some negative bumps along the way.