Joey Garcia
Summer DBQ 2009
Undoubtedly in the late 1800's and early 1900's, the West had a huge impact on the growing nation of Japan. Politically the West showed Japan the way to democracy, somewhat, peaceful negotiations, and acted as a role model on world behavior for the Asian nation. However, the West also had a strong presence socially, shown in Western dress styles, Westernized schools, and pictures among other things.
Japan's society was certainly influenced by Western elements in the late 1800's and early 1900's, as is shown in several documents given for the dbq. One of the most notable is Document 1, which also applies to politics strongly as well. In this document Theodore Roosevelt so unabashedly says that the people of Japan were influenced strongly by the touchiness which they felt about not being considered equals to the great nations of the West. On the tail end of the documents, Document 12 illustrates, quite literally, how the normal citizens of Japan noted and found interest in the exotic sailors of the West in a picture by Hashimoto Sadahide. The picture of Document 4 also gives testament to the influence from the West over Japan via missionary activity. The shown house belonged to the Johnson family. The Johnsons worked for years working as missionaries to Japan. Emperor Meiji, in Document 8, assumed a pose in a photograph that suggested a more Western idea of formality. Document 7 runs with the idea being a picture by a Japanese artist. There is an upperclass Japanese woman wearing a dress heavily influenced by European styles in turn of century Japan. Document 2, also a picture shows a Japanese school that does not follow traditional Japanese architecture, but instead looks like a more Westernized school building. In a more economically concerned viewpoint, Kume Kunitake brought up the problem of San Francisco's economy being burdened by expensive labor and land because it purchased so frequently from others instead of relying a bit more on itself. A poor San Fransisco would not be helpful for Japan's economy.
Politically, Japan was influenced by the west as well. One good example of this is Document 1, written by Theodore Roosevelt in which he states that Japan feels that it does not have the respect of the Occidental Nations, and that it should be one. Japan, according to him, feels like they are a legitimate government that deserves companionship and equality with the other great nations of the world. Document 3, which has excerpts from the Constitution of the empire of Japan, mentions a house of Representatives and an Imperial Diet, both of which suggest a diffusion of power from the emperor somewhat. This shows that Japanese society has become slightly more democratic than before. Document 5, which was an Imperial Proclamation of war, told of negotiations being held, which is not in keeping with the old traditions of wars being waged frequently. Docment 11, The Treaty of Portsmouth, ended the war between Japan and Russia, and was certainly influenced by Western ideology, as it was signed in New Hampshire, and a local politician wrote his opinion on the matter. In conclusion, the West was certainly a huge factor in the shaping of Japan, both politically and socially, and this shaping would be key for the next century in many ways, not the least of which two world wars, and later major involvement in terms of technological collaboration and partnership on the world leadership scene.