Japan Modernizes
Section 2
Essential Questions
• Why did Japan want to remain isolated and
how were they challenged by European
powers?
• How did the Meiji Restoration restore power
to Japan?
• How did new foreign policy make Japan an
industrial and military power?
Isolationism in Japan
Japanese leaders wanted to remain isolated
from foreigners
Feared change, didn’t want leaders overthrown
Trading ships were not allowed in ports
However, Japanese people were curious
about Western lifestyle
Discontent in Japan
Shoguns – supreme military dictators
Diamyo- landholding warrior lords
(helped the shoguns rule Japan)
Samauri- lesser than (lacked money,
unhappy)
*The samauri wanted change.
Japan Changes Direction
During the
Meiji Era: 1868 - 1912
Commodore Matthew Perry
1853 – Commodore Matthew Perry
“Opens Up” Japan to Western Trade!
Commodore Matthew Perry
Landed at Tokyo Bay. He was sent from
the U.S. by Pres. Millard Fillmore with a
letter demanding Japan open its ports to
trade.
Japan could not defend itself against the
U.S. Navy.
What Did the U. S. Want??
 Coaling stations

More trading
partners

A haven for
ship-wrecked
sailors
Treaty of Kanagawa
Japan opened ports, not for trade.
Soon the U.S. won trading rights.
Japan Opened two ports to American
trade
Allowed an American consul to live in
Japan
Consul - A government official responsible
for business and trade interests
The Treaty of Kanagawa - 1854
The Emperor Is “Restored” to
Power
MEIJI  “Enlightened Rule”
Meiji
15 year old emperor “ enlightened ruler”
Reformers under him wanted to
strengthen Japan
Adopted German gov.
Citizens equal before the law
Formed a diet-legislation
Western-style bureaucracy-separate
finance, army, navy, & edu.
Changes in Society
Rapid industrialization
Some women became literate but still
were second class( were not allowed to
get into politics).Homogeneous societysame culture and language
Newspaper Cartoon, 1870s
Enlightened
Half-Enlightened
Un-Enlightened
European
Goods
 Many Japanese
felt the Europeans
were “too close for
comfort”
 New slogan:
Japanese Spirit;
Western
Technology!
The Japanese Became Obsessed
with Western Styles
Civilization and Enlightenment!
Asia
Japan
Sino-Japanese War
Japan wanted to trade with Korea which
was controlled by China
Japan’s modernized forces easily
defeated China’s weak army and navy
China was forced to…
allow Korea to be independent
 give the island of Taiwan to Japan
The Russo-Japanese War:
1904-1905
The Russo-Japanese War
Japan was getting worried about Russian
expansion in China and Korea
Japan defeated Russia
Japan formed a protectorate in Korea
and annexed Korea
Russia was forced to recognize Japan’s
control over Korea
Japan Annexes Korea