Meiji Restoration

In his novel titled Kokoro, Natsume Soseki explores the values of both the traditional society and the modern ideals brought about in the Meiji Era. The Meiji Era is a period of Japanese history (1868-1912) in which Emperor Meiji took the throne and enforced extreme social change. Prior to the Meiji Era, the Japanese culture withheld Confucian values that placed emphasis on a harmonious, collective society, education, extreme respect to authorities, and focus on human relationships rather than…

In the earliest recordings of Japanese history, there were little distinctions between gender, and limited separation between the roles of the two sexes. As time moved along, Japan slowly started to segregate men and women, it created a patriarchal society that women, even to this day, still suffer from. This great divide within the Japanese culture can easily be due to the religious influences of China and other Eastern cultures. With the introduction of Buddhism and Confucianism to Japan,…

During the era of Meiji Japan, Japan opened its doors and became influenced by societies like Europe. In Sanshirō: a Novel by Natsume Sōseki, Japan became influenced by Europe’s ideas of individuality and humanism. The people in Meiji Japan believed and accepted to a great extend the European narrative of the Enlightenment of humanism, people being seen as a human who determine their own destiny, individuality, which meant people do what is in their self-interest, people were logical and…

Over the following centuries the power of the emperor and the imperial court gradually declined and passed to the military clans and their armies of samurai warriors. The Minamoto clan under Minamoto no Yoritomo emerged victorious from the Genpei War of 1180–85. After seizing power, Yoritomo set up his capital in Kamakura and took the title of shogun. In 1274 and 1281, the Kamakura shogunate withstood two Mongol invasions, but in 1333 it was toppled by a rival claimant to the shogunate, ushering…

Japan consists of one of the most culturally rich societies in the world, one of which through history has been greatly affected by the other cultures around it. America has specifically played a huge influence in Japan since the Meiji Period and continues to do so today (Bognar 47f). In fact, “Much of today's Japanese culture is derivative of or responds to American culture” (47). But is America’s influence necessarily a good thing? The westernization, or more specifically the…

In the late 1860’s samurai intellectuals were increasingly in favor of Western ideas being installed in Japan in order to raise their nation to the level of the US and of Europeans nations. They believed that to accomplish this they needed to reform their education system, their government and their society. During this period, this movement which originated from the Meiji’s government Westernizing changes in culture (clothing, nutrition and western weaponry) went beyond the government’s…

In Tooth Decay Battle, Laser for the Win! [long form] As Darth Vader knows, a laser is a valuable aid in taking out your enemies. It turns out our Alma, MI dentist Dr. Thomas J. McDonald has a little something in common with the “Star Wars” bad guy. Like the Sith Lord, Dr. McDonald frequently arms himself with a laser on the job. Unlike Vader, though, he uses his laser for good, not evil. Dr. McDonald uses his laser in the battle against tooth decay, every dentist’s sworn enemy. He uses the…

Did You Damage Your Veneers? Know How They Will Be Fixed If you decided to use dental veneers to make your smile look perfect, you most likely are taking all the necessary steps to keep them free of any damage. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and veneers can become broken or cracked. Do you know what to do if this happens to you? Here is what you need to know about chipped and damaged veneers. Chipped Dental Veneers Your dental veneers can become chipped if you bite down on a hard food…

“The Tattooer,” by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō, presents a sexual obsession and power. His book is based on the Japanese traditions and the West, particularly during the Edo period of 1603 to 1867. During the Edo era, it was a time of economic growth and time for enjoyment of art and culture. Men would beautify themselves by getting a tattoo. They considered strength and beauty one. The story brings out the personalities of the tattooer, Seikichi, and the geisha and how their power intertwines. Seikichi…

preceded by the unequal treaties imposed by the American commodore. The emperor of Japan would modernize and adapt through education, military and local administration reform in order to create a strong national identity among Japan’s people. As the Meiji government established a constitution an economic transformation would occur, where great company’s like Mitsubishi would dictate the Japanese economy and create an impressive growth. The Japanese expansionism would create conflicts with…