Modern Japan: History, Culture and Education

---

I. Meiji Restoration (1868-1912)
    A. Collapse of the Tokugawa bakufu
    B. Rise of Choshu, Satsuma, Tosa samurai
    C. Imperial Restoration more a facade than reality
    D. Imperial Symbolism used extensively to create a "modern state"

II. The Meiji Charter Oath
    A. Deliberative Assemblies
    B. Social classes to unite for national welfare
    C. Careers open to talent
    D. Evil customs to be abolished
    E. Knowledge to be sought throughout the world

III. New Names, Places, Institutions
    A. Edo renamed Tokyo, designated the imperial capital
    B. Heian renamed Kyoto, former imperial capital
    C. Tokugawa castle refurbished as imperial palace
    D. Meiji Constitution promulgated in 1889
    E. Imperial Diet convened, 1890
    F. National currency (yen) created
    G. Imperial Military forces

IV. Meiji Intellectual Life
    A. Fukuzawa Yukichi (1835-1901) promoter of Western learning\
    B. 1872 Universal School System decreed---Monbusho established
        1. mixture of Prussian, French, American, and Confucian influences
        2. By 1880, as many primary schools as exist today
        3. By 1900, 98% of elementary school age children in school
        4. Male education more emphasized, especially beyond elementary
    C. Imperial Universities established
    D. Imperial Rescript on Education ---emphasized "traditional" values

V. Meiji Foreign and Military Affairs
    A. Collapse of the Tokugawa & Commodore Matthew Perry
    B. Treaty of Kanagawa, Harris Treaty, "Unequal Treaties"
    C. Meiji regime sought to reverse these treaties, achieve recognition for Japan
    D. Western ethnocentrism insisted that Japan remained less than civilized
    E. War and International Prestige
        1. Sino-Japanese War (1894-95)
        2. Triple Intervention (Russia, France, Germany)
        3. Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902)
        4. Russo-Japanese War (1904-05)

VI. Taisho Japan (1912-1925), Liberalism and Democracy
    A. Rise of political parties, importance of the Diet, prime ministers
    B. Taisho emperor's (Yoshihito) eccentricities
    C. 1925 Universal Manhood Suffrage
    D. International Initiatives
        1. WWI fought with Britan, US (liberal-democratic nations)
        2. Washington Conference of 1920---limiting armaments
        3. London Conference of 1930

VII. The Fifteen Year War (1931-1945)
    A. Manchurian Incident of 1931
        1. Creation of Manchuguo
        2. Withdrawal from League of Nations
        3. Intensification of ultranationalist trends in education
            a. Teikoku shugi
            b. Gunkoku shugi
            c. Nippon shugi
    B. February 26, 1936 "Imperial Way" attempted coup
    C. Marco Polo Bridge Incident (China Incident) July 1937
    D. US, British, Dutch Oil Embargo
    E. Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)
    F. Battle of Midway
    G. Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Hiroshima, Nagasaki
    H. August 15, 1945 Imperial Surrender

---