Was The Meiji Restoration Beneficial For Japan?

Caught up in between an industrialization and isolation period, Japan had to make choices promptly in order to hold a solid future. The Meiji Era 1868-1912, was the period in Japan's history where ports were opened to the outside industrializing world. However, this caused controversy considering whether or not this restoration was really the best alternative. Additionally, it is often debated, to what extent was the Meiji beneficial for Japan. Looking to the surrounding historical context of the time, some may argue that since Japan had gone through an elongated isolation period up to 1868, and might not have had much internal conflict and issues, there was no reason that Japan had to open the ports and become involved with global conflicts. Although the Meiji restoration caused problems such as rises in tax that might have led to lower income citizens encountering hardships; the industrialization that was caused …show more content…
For example, this revealed to the global powers that Japan was capable of being a powerhouse. Further, the new and improved technological advances appears to have helped Japan in more than one way. A major improvement because of outside influences were factories. Put another way, before the start of the Meiji Restoration, practically everything made in Japan was hand made, and may have taken a considerable amount of time to produce. Once the influences of technology from the outside reached Japan, work in factories seem to be changed forever. Put simply, the introduction of machines helped products to be made quickly and consistently. Further, the outside influence on technology may have also helped the military. Overall, all of these changes helped to show how quickly Japan could advance and become part of the global powerhouses, and not just be considered a small isolated island off of mainland