Meiji Opens the Country

By the time the shogunate fell in 1868, Japan was developing in isolation from the rest of the world. The country was in a state of economic and social crisis, primarily due to the slowdown in the growth of productive forces and technological backwardness. However, it would be unfair to say that 265 years of isolation under the Tokugawa family were in vain for Japan. By the beginning of the 18th century, Kyoto and Osaka were among the largest cities in the world, and Edo, with a population of over one million people, was the largest one. The country had one of the highest literacy rates, a perfect, although in many ways elitist culture. The state provided the people with a standard of living that was not very high, but quite acceptable. Crafts and trade flourished in the country, and the political system was slowly but constantly modernizing. The main driving force behind the Restoration was the realization of the inevitability of a complete opening of the country, both under pressure from foreigners and due to an understanding of Japans technological backwardness. The events in India and China, where the British and French successfully pursued a colonial policy, also played a significant role in the countrys decestan to open itself. Japan closely followed the events in China and looked for ways to avoid a similar fate. After much hesitation, Japan voluntarily and purposefully decided to meet Europe halfway and rebuild its national life along Western lines. The samurai of the principalities of Satsuma, Choshu and Tosa led in the number of attacks on foreigners and on those high-ranking Japanese whom they considered traitors to the country for their concessions to foreigners. However, it was they who ultimately created a channel of communication with foreigners, primarily with the British. They were the first to establish ties with Europe, buying weapons from it and sending young people to study abroad. Throughout the Meiji period, which became a turning point in the history of modern Japan, they ruled the country on behalf of the emperor. Samurai united and decided to turn Japan into a strong and modern state, capable of withstanding any pressure from outside. Paradoxically, Emperor Komei (1831–1867), who actually led the movement Sonnō-Jōi (Long live the Emperor – Down with the barbarians) united around the court those who ultimately overthrew the shogunate and opened Japan to the world. Having abolished the shogunate, they did not formally change the political system of the country, at the head of which remained the emperor, and the new system of government they created was based at the beginning of the reforms on the institutions of power that traditionally existed at the court in Kyoto.