Meiji Japan Modern history

around end of 19th century , 20th century, meiji era marked reign of meiji emperor. during time, japan started modernization , rose world power status. era name means enlightened rule . in japan, meiji restoration started in 1860s, marking rapid modernization japanese along european lines. research has focused on issues of discontinuity versus continuity previous tokugawa period. in 1960s younger japanese scholars led irokawa daikichi, reacted against bureaucratic superstate, , began searching historic role of common people . avoided elite, , focused not on political events on social forces , attitudes. rejected both marxism , modernization theory alien , confining. stressed importance of popular energies in development of modern japan. enlarged history using methods of social history. not until beginning of meiji era japanese government began taking modernization seriously. japan expanded military production base opening arsenals in various locations. hyobusho (war office) replaced war department , naval department. samurai class suffered great disappointment following years.

laws instituted required every able-bodied male japanese citizen, regardless of class, serve mandatory term of 3 years first reserves , 2 additional years second reserves. action, deathblow samurai warriors , daimyōs, met resistance both peasant , warrior alike. peasant class interpreted term military service, ketsu-eki ( blood tax ) literally, , attempted avoid service means necessary. japanese government began modelling ground forces after french military. french government contributed training of japanese officers. many employed @ military academy in kyoto, , many more still feverishly translating french field manuals use in japanese ranks.

after death of meiji emperor, taishō emperor took throne, beginning taishō period. key foreign observer of remarkable , rapid changes in japanese society in period ernest mason satow.

representative western scholars include george akita, william beasley, james b. crowley, john w. dower, peter duus, carol gluck, norman herbert, john w. hall, mikiso hane, akira iriye, marius jansen, edwin o. reischauer, george b. sansom, bernard silberman, richard storry, karel van wolfram, , ezra vogel.