The Meiji era is the first era of Japanese history to see the rule of an emperor, since the Kenmu Restoration.In the early years of constitutional government, the strengths and weaknesses of the Meiji Constitution were revealed. This proved that if morale was high among troops even the strongest of defences could be overcome. New laws in 1875 prohibited press criticism of the government or discussion of national laws.
x x x. Enodake. The Meiji Emperor “pulled all the stops” for the Hawaiian monarch, including a Japanese Imperial Army band playing “Hawaii Pono,” the Kingdom anthem.From the Meiji Emperor’s viewpoint, Hawaii was an Asia-Pacific “success story.” When in 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Yokohama Bay to pressure the then-ruling Tokugawa warlord to “open” Japan to Western trade and diplomacy, Japan was exposed as a weak feudal state that was defenseless to resist Western industrialized power.Of the questions asked by Japanese to the king, one bothered him: “Why didn’t you choose Hawaiians to be Cabinet members and travel companions?”This latter question was the trigger for the King’s unique program to develop a “Hawaiian” cadre of technocrats (speaking foreign languages) educated abroad for what we would call a “Global M.B.A.”During the 1603-1868 Tokugawa Era, no Japanese were allowed to travel abroad under “sakoku,” or the 250-year “Closed Country” policy.Emperor Meiji viewed Kalakaua as a model of a Westernized, independent Asia-Pacific nation-state.To catch up with the West, Emperor Meiji explored adopting English as Japan’s official language and accelerated engineering programs, including at now top-ranked Tokyo University. In 1881, in an action for which he is best known, Itagaki helped found the Jiyuto (Liberal Party), which favored French political doctrines.In 1882 Okuma Shigenobu established the Rikken Kaishintō (Constitutional Progressive Party), which called for a British-style constitutional democracy. In response, government bureaucrats, local government officials, and other conservatives established the Rikken Teiseitō (Imperial Rule Party), a pro-government party, in 1882. Voice Actor: George Grant (Eng. Party participation was recognized as part of the political process. The Reign of the Meiji Emperor When the Meiji emperor was restored as head of Japan in 1868, the nation was a militarily weak country, was … The Last Samurai 末代武士 (The final emperor scene) Sean S. Loading... Unsubscribe from Sean S? Kyôto 3.11.1852, gest.