Meiji and Modernity

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  • November 27, 2007 at 6:28 am #5701
    Rob_Hugo@PortNW
    Keymaster

    One of the questions posed in either EWP or the binder this week was does "modernity mean Westernization"? I thought about this a lot as a I read. From the readings it seems like in Japan, the two were interchangable. The adoption of all things Western seemed to equate highly with Japan's struggle to modernize. Japan has been open and closed to forgeiners throughout various times in history, yet the times that led to the Meiji transformation seemd to hinge strongly on could they adopt enough Western techology and styles fast enough.
    What I found most interesting is that Japan used the U.S. as one of its models of modernization, when the U.S. had only been a unified county for a few hundred years prior to the Meiji transformation, and Japan had been around for centuries. I wonder if modelling it's modernization on such a baby country didn't contribute to some of the uprising and disagreement that was prevalent in the moder era (1900+)?

    November 28, 2007 at 10:41 am #34211
    Anonymous
    Guest

    I never thought of it that way, but what you're saying makes a lot of sense. It seems the samurai/daimyo class thought of westerners and Americans as barbarians, and to adopt their ways would go against these thoughts. What made westerners barbarians? The fact that they were different (race, religion, ethnicity, nationality), or the fact that they didn't have a long and storied history like the Japanese. It certainly gives me a lot to think about.

    December 7, 2007 at 11:23 pm #34212
    Anonymous
    Guest

    One of the things that has not been addressed but relates to your thoughts is that as Japan adopted western technology they endeavored to remain insulated from foreign cultural influence. During the Meiji period of "westernization" was the position of the Emperor as a deity ever questioned or challenged? Were there groups that were affected by western Thought and therefore sought to change the existing social structure? When in the history of Japan did they question the position of the emperor prior to WW II?

    December 18, 2007 at 11:00 am #34213
    Anonymous
    Guest

    I just wish to throw a monkey wrench in this discussion: Japan seems to lack originality in its creativity. Let's just work with this statement a bit: Prior adopting Western methodology, it adopted the Chinese approach to life. Whatever it may appear to them to be better than their own, they appear to believe automatically that it should be adopted by them and they automatically appear to be willing to throw out of the window whatever they already had. Does this mean that they have no sense of cultural pride, sense of uniqueness, worthiness, Japanhood ? Must we think of the "made in Japan" as THE sole uniqueness of Japahood ? I am not looking at the successes obtained by Japan in areas imported or copied form the West. I am looking to unique aspects of Japahood, aspects which distinctively Japanese (bonsai, Japanese gardens, etc.). Japanese society, as I mentioned on another of my comments, appears to be going through an identity crisis. The Japanese has reached a good level of wealth and now has time to devote to intellectual self-worthiness questions. I read not too long ago about the high rate of depression and suicide within the Japanese youth. They are questioning the values held by the older generation and relating specifically to Japan, Inc. Where will this state of affairs lead? How will Japan, Inc. react to the youth's rejection of its values? Japan has, occasionally, tried to take a stand and participate more actively in international affairs and peace missions in troubled regions of the world contributing money, know-how, and personnel. Is Japan growing out of its shell and becoming JAPAN with its own cultural, international identity? Or will it continue to tag along the winning teams?

    December 21, 2007 at 4:43 am #34214
    Anonymous
    Guest

    When Ray Moser spoke about the two sides of Japanese reality with women during the Heian Era I began to think that Japan may adopt other cultures on the surface but that there is a Japanese undertow. Japanese women have a subculture that has it's own identity that's remained very uniquely Japanese. Even with the ebb and flow of Buddhism and Confucianism Japanese women provide the thread that holds together what is essence of being Japanese. My sons' elementary school had students from Japanese families on temporary assignment with Toyota, Honda, etc. and I got close to a couple of Japanese moms who were concerned that their daughters were missing out on what it means to be a true Japanese woman (the universal maternal lament). This had more to do with tenacity and accomplishments than ikebana and kimonos. What I am realizing is that Japanese women are very rooted in their subculture and need their daughters to carry on their legacy.

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