Japan, also known as «the country of the rising sun», is located in the far East of Asia. For many centuries Japan wished to be a secluded country with no connections to non-Japanese. Before the Meiji restoration (1868), normal custom and belief at this time for Japanese was that outlanders meant trouble. The Japanese did have a special exception for the Chinese because of their strong cultural similarities, however they would only wish to communicate with
them if they spoke of trade, if trade was not the topic of communication then the Chinese would be unwelcomed as well (Pletcher, n.d. Meiji Restoration, Britannica).
Although, Japan’s wish was to be secluded, there has been many times foreign countries have tried to invade Japan. Invasions such as the Mongol invasions (1274 and 1281), Ōei invasion from Korea (1419), and a few more that date back hundreds of years. In addition, normal trade with the Japanese was very difficult for foreigners to do as well. If the Japanese Samurai were to hear of foreigners coming close to their shores they would prepare for war. The first time Europeans came in contact with Japan was in 1543. Two Portuguese traders arrived on a Chinese ship offering them hand-held guns. The Japanese were hesitant in the beginning as they already had access to gunpowder because of their relationship with China, however because Japan was at a civil war at that time, they accepted the trade with the Portuguese. This was the first time a western country had a successful meeting with the Japanese (Kang, 1997).
Three hundred years later, Japan would have the Meiji Restoration. The catalyst of the restoration was when Japan came in contact with large warships coming from The United States of America. Japan, like many other Asian countries knew they were behind when it came to political, economic and social issues. At that time, when the Americans first arrived with armaments and technology that surpassed what Japan had at that time. Japan was delighted over the new and improved military equipment and made a treaty with America and other Western countries to open their ports for trade. The ideal for Japan was to expand in Asia and to become a strong empire. A Japanese feudal lord Shimazu Nariakira explained the situation as “if we take the initiative, we can dominate it; if we do not, we will be dominated”. This is why between the Meiji restoration till the end of the 2nd world war, Japan would have bad relations with most foreign countries that would end in war (Kang, 1997)
Before the end of the 2nd world war, it was fairly common for many countries around the world to not get along, because at the time it was more common to build empires. Japan, like many other countries in the 1st and 2nd world war tried to expand on land by taking over some countries like Indonesia, China, Korea, Oceanian islands by force. In this time, more lands equaled to more power, and it is certain to say power at this time is what most countries wanted. It was a symbol of being strong (Davis, 2001). However, after losing the 2nd world war, Japan realized bigger area is not necessarily what they need in order to build a stronger nation. Occupied by the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Russia and The United States of America), Japan came in closer touch with what type of culture these Western countries valued (Kang, 1997). Japanese started to learn English, built modern houses, follow Western fashion, and even adopt foreign food recipes and culture. Even when the Allied Powers left Japan in 1952, Japan would still follow the customs they had learnt from the foreign countries (Japan.Guide.Com, 2002).
Through the Western influence, Japan has become a nation many countries from East to West depends on for foreign support. Due to the influence of the European empires/superpowers, Japan is now a global nation, known to many as a Western country located in the East. English is taught in schools, they have interests in foreign music, television shows, food and many other foreign cultural customs. Its people for the most part wear Western clothing but do wear traditional clothing such as Kimono or Yukata to traditional events or temples. Japan is also said to be the biggest technological country because of their convenience such as IC cards to bizarre technologies such as automatic toilets doing the washing for you (ThisIsAmericaTV, 2015). Japan has also become a very popular destination spot for both travelling and moving. Japan would not be the loved country it is today without its foreign influence. The road to here is rooted in tragic events, but today Japan has owned up to it by helping many fellow countries with political, economic and social issues aiming to build a better world with their neighbors.
Reference List
Japan.Guide.Com. (2002, June 9). Post War History (since 1945). Retrieved from Japan.Guide.Com: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2124.html
Pletcher, K. (n.d. Meiji Restoration, Britannica, n.d. Meiji Restoration, Britannica n.d. Meiji Restoration, Britannica). Meiji Restoration. Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/event/Meiji-Restoration
Kang, E.-J. (1997). Diplomacy and Ideology in Japanese-Korean Relations: From the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth Century.London: Palgrave Macmillah.
Davis, P. K. (2001). 100 Decisive Battles: From Ancient Times to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
ThisIsAmericaTV (Director). (2015). Japan : Tradition & Culture [Motion Picture].
Written by: LEAF Team
Comentários