Feature History - Meiji Restoration

Summary

This video explores the Meiji Restoration, a pivotal period in Japan's history when imperial power was restored and the samurai class became obsolete. It traces Japan's shift from feudal rule under the shogunate to modernization and Westernization, spurred by external pressures like Commodore Perry's arrival. The script highlights key events, including the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the rise of the Satcho Alliance, and Saigo Takamori's last stand. The Restoration marked Japan's transformation into a modern nation, but also led to lasting societal changes, including the decline of the samurai class.

Takeaways

• 🎵 The Meiji Restoration marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and brought about significant changes to Japan.
• 👑 The restoration centralized power under Emperor Meiji, although true control rested with his cabinet of samurai bureaucrats.
• ⚔️ The samurai class became obsolete as Japan introduced a conscript army, public education, and social mobility.
• 🚢 Commodore Matthew Perry's arrival in 1853 forced Japan to open up to the West, ending its long-standing isolation.
• 🎌 The Satcho Alliance, formed by the Satsuma and Choshu domains, successfully rebelled against the shogun with the help of Western military technology.
• 💥 The Satsuma Rebellion, led by Saigo Takamori, marked the last stand of the samurai in 1877, as they fought against the new imperial government.
• 📚 The restoration led to rapid modernization, with Japan adopting Western ideas and technologies, which contributed to its emergence as a powerful empire.
• 💔 Many samurai and traditionalists felt betrayed by the reforms, leading to resistance and conflict during this period.
• 🎖️ The legacy of Saigo Takamori, despite his defeat, was honored by the Meiji government, symbolizing the transition from old to new Japan.
• 🌏 The Meiji Restoration laid the foundation for Japan's future dominance in technology, industry, and politics, but also contributed to its imperialist ambitions.

Q & A

What is the Meiji Restoration, and why is it important?

The Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868, was a political revolution in Japan that restored imperial rule under Emperor Meiji. It marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and led to the modernization and industrialization of Japan, transforming it into a major world power.

What is a 'Shogunate' and how did it operate in Japan?

A 'Shogunate' was a form of military government led by a shogun, who held true power in Japan while the emperor was a figurehead. The shogun was supported by a hierarchy of daimyos (landlords) and samurai, creating a feudal system that dominated Japan for centuries.

How did the Tokugawa Shogunate establish control over Japan?

The Tokugawa Shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 after a period of civil war (the Sengoku Jidai). It brought stability to Japan by centralizing power and isolating the country from foreign influence, ensuring peace for over 200 years.

Why did Japan initially resist Western influence, and what changed that?

Japan resisted Western influence under the Tokugawa Shogunate, fearing it would destabilize the country. However, after Commodore Matthew Perry's arrival in 1853 with modern steamships and military might, Japan realized its technological inferiority and began opening up to Western ideas and technology.

Who were the Shishi, and what role did they play in the Meiji Restoration?

The Shishi were samurai from the Satsuma and Choshu domains who opposed the Tokugawa Shogunate. They supported the 'Sonno Joi' movement (revere the emperor, expel the barbarians) and played a critical role in rallying forces to restore the emperor's power during the Meiji Restoration.

What led to the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate?

The Tokugawa Shogunate's downfall was due to its failure to resist Western pressure and its weakening control over the daimyo. The opening of Japan to foreign influence without imperial approval led to unrest, which was exploited by the Satcho Alliance, ultimately toppling the Shogunate in 1868.

How did Emperor Meiji and his cabinet modernize Japan after the Restoration?

Emperor Meiji and his cabinet implemented rapid modernization policies, such as establishing public education, creating a conscript army, promoting industrialization, and adopting Western technologies. These changes helped transform Japan into a centralized and modern nation.

Why was the conscript army controversial, especially among the samurai class?

The creation of a conscript army was controversial because it made the samurai class, who had traditionally been Japan's warrior elite, obsolete. The new army emphasized nationalism over the traditional feudal hierarchy, stripping the samurai of their privileges.

Who was Saigo Takamori, and why is he considered a tragic hero?

Saigo Takamori was a former samurai and leader of the Satsuma Rebellion, opposing the Meiji government's reforms that diminished the role of the samurai. He is considered a tragic hero because, despite his defeat and death in battle, his resistance symbolized the end of the samurai era. He was posthumously pardoned by Emperor Meiji in 1889.

How did the Meiji Restoration set the stage for Japan's future military and political power?

The Meiji Restoration set Japan on a path of rapid modernization and military strengthening, allowing it to compete with Western powers. Japan's newfound industrial and military strength enabled it to win wars against China and Russia, expand its empire, and become a dominant force in the Pacific.

Outlines

00:00

🎎 The End of the Shogunate and the Rise of the Meiji Restoration

The narrator sets the tone with dramatic flair, reflecting on the end of the Shogunate and the start of the Meiji Restoration. Japan, once ruled by emperors and later military leaders called shoguns, saw its power structure shift as the samurai, once esteemed warriors, became highly organized. The establishment of the first shogunate began after the Genpei War, with power resting in the hands of the shogun, not the emperor. As daimyo and samurai competed for control during the Sengoku Jidai era, Japan also encountered Europeans, leading to profound changes in warfare and society. This introduction sets the stage for understanding how these historical shifts led to the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate and ultimately the Meiji Restoration.

05:03

⚔️ Tokugawa Iemochi and the Challenge of Western Influence

Tokugawa Iemochi is forced to confront the arrival of U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry, whose ultimatum led Japan to open its borders to the West. Iemochi had little choice due to Japan's lack of modern military power. After signing unequal treaties with Western powers, Japan faced internal discontent, particularly from samurai in the Satsuma and Choshu regions, who opposed foreign influence without the emperor's consent. These samurai, called the Shishi, launched the Sonno Joi movement, seeking to revere the emperor and expel the barbarians. Tensions grew as Western powers retaliated against the Shishi's actions, but the internal unrest indicated that the shogunate's authority was crumbling.

10:07

🛡️ The Fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Rise of the Meiji Emperor

With the death of Iemochi and the accession of Emperor Meiji, the Satcho Alliance (Satsuma and Choshu) solidified their rebellion against the shogunate. The shogunate's forces, modernized with French assistance, could not withstand the imperial forces backed by the UK. After initial battles, the shogun's retreat and the fall of Edo marked the end of Tokugawa power. By the end of 1868, Japan was united under Emperor Meiji, and the imperial court moved to Edo, renamed Tokyo. The brief resistance from northern domains was quelled, creating a centralized Japan under imperial rule for the first time. The Meiji government now sought to modernize and reshape Japan's society, transitioning away from the feudal system.

Keywords

💡Meiji Restoration

The Meiji Restoration was a political revolution in Japan that occurred in 1868, leading to the restoration of imperial rule under Emperor Meiji. It marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and ushered in a period of rapid modernization and industrialization. This period transformed Japan into a major world power by adopting Western technology and ideas while retaining elements of traditional Japanese culture.

💡Shogunate

A shogunate refers to the military government led by a shogun, which effectively ruled Japan while the emperor was a symbolic figurehead. The Tokugawa Shogunate, which lasted from 1603 to 1868, centralized power in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and maintained strict control over the country, creating a rigid social hierarchy and isolating Japan from the outside world until its eventual fall during the Meiji Restoration.

💡Samurai

Samurai were the warrior class in feudal Japan, serving the daimyo (feudal lords) and shoguns. During the Meiji Restoration, the samurai class became obsolete as Japan modernized and established a conscript army. This shift was a key source of tension, leading to uprisings like the Satsuma Rebellion, where samurai, including Saigo Takamori, resisted their loss of status.

💡Daimyo

Daimyo were powerful feudal lords in Japan who owned vast lands and commanded samurai armies. Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, the daimyo were controlled through strict laws, but they played a significant role in the rise and fall of shogunate power. Many daimyo, particularly from the Satsuma and Choshu domains, led the rebellion that contributed to the collapse of the Tokugawa regime during the Meiji Restoration.

💡Satsuma and Choshu domains

The Satsuma and Choshu domains were powerful regions in southern Japan that played a central role in the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Their samurai, known as the Shishi, were critical in the Sonno Joi movement ('revere the emperor, expel the barbarians'). Their alliance ultimately led to the establishment of the Meiji government and the modernization of Japan.

💡Sonno Joi

Sonno Joi, meaning 'revere the emperor, expel the barbarians,' was a political philosophy embraced by samurai from the Satsuma and Choshu domains who opposed the Tokugawa Shogunate's policies of opening Japan to Western influence. This ideology fueled their rebellion, which sought to restore the emperor's power and remove foreign influence, a driving force behind the Meiji Restoration.

💡Matthew Perry

Commodore Matthew Perry was a U.S. naval officer whose arrival in Japan in 1853 forced the Tokugawa Shogunate to open its ports to the West, ending Japan's centuries of isolation. His 'black ships' symbolized Western technological superiority, and his demands for trade treaties highlighted Japan’s military and industrial shortcomings, which contributed to the eventual collapse of the shogunate.

💡Unequal treaties

The 'unequal treaties' refer to agreements that Japan was forced to sign with Western powers after Commodore Perry's arrival, starting with the U.S. in 1854. These treaties were heavily in favor of Western countries and opened Japanese ports to foreign trade, undermining the authority of the shogun and fueling resentment that helped ignite the Meiji Restoration.

💡Saigo Takamori

Saigo Takamori was a samurai and military leader from Satsuma who initially supported the Meiji Restoration but later became disillusioned with the new government’s policies. He led the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, fighting for the preservation of the samurai class. Despite being defeated, Saigo became a symbol of samurai honor and was posthumously pardoned by the Meiji government.

💡Satsuma Rebellion

The Satsuma Rebellion was a revolt led by Saigo Takamori in 1877 against the Meiji government. Discontent with the abolition of the samurai class and modernization policies, samurai from the Satsuma domain rose in rebellion. The conscript army of the Meiji government eventually defeated them, marking the end of the samurai era and solidifying the new modern order in Japan.

Highlights

Introduction to the Meiji Restoration and the end of the shogunate.

Explanation of the feudal system under the emperor, with samurai and daimyo.

The rise of the samurai and the establishment of the first shogunate after the Genpei War.

Tokugawa Ieyasu's role in restoring peace and establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603.

Ieyasu's fear of European destabilization and the strict isolationist policies implemented by the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The Edo period saw 200 years of peace but also tension due to class restrictions and inequality.

The introduction of Rangaku (Dutch studies) and Western knowledge, which began to fascinate Japanese intellectuals.

Commodore Matthew Perry's arrival in 1853 and the subsequent opening of Japan to the West.

The unequal treaties signed by Japan with the U.S., U.K., Russia, and France.

The rise of the Sonno Joi movement ('Revere the emperor, expel the barbarians') and increasing dissatisfaction with the shogunate.

Formation of the Satcho Alliance between Satsuma and Choshu domains to overthrow the shogunate.

The Boshin War begins in 1868, with clashes between imperial forces and shogunate loyalists.

Emperor Meiji's rise to power and the full restoration of imperial rule in 1868.

The modernization efforts under Meiji's cabinet, including public education, a conscript army, and social mobility.

Saigo Takamori's rebellion in 1877, marking the last stand of the samurai, and his eventual death.

Transcripts

[Dramatic Japanese oriental music]

BEAUTY AND HARMONY...

GOVERNED BY ONE ETERNAL LAW...

ALL THAT BEGINS...

MUST END...

THE REIGN OF THE SHOGUNATE IS OVER!

Sorry, I always wanted to do that.

[Intro music]

Hello, and welcome to Feature History, featuring the Meiji Restoration...

or, more accurately, Meiji's Cabinet's Restoration.

The boy was still trying to figure out why he got weird feelings about girls.

But let's not digress.

Let's talk about the revolution,

the reformation,

the restoration,

the other cool words that start with "Re–"...

that completely changed the history of Japan...

the boy Emperor that removed even the concept of the Shogunate.

But what is a "shogunate"?

Let's go back to Japan's early history when it was ruled by an emperor.

Like any feudal society, under him were the nobility-- the landowners--

and some of these landowners liked to fight wars... the samurai.

Near the end of the first millennium, the samurai were in high demand, and so became organized.

They got into a spat with the imperial court in the Genpei War [1180 - 1185] and defeated the Emperor,

establishing the first ever shogunate.

The Emperor became a figurehead.

True power went to the shogun, or military leader,

and now also those noble warriors of samurai were far more prestigious than the aristocrats.

So, on top in this new hierarchy, we have the shogun,

the greatest of the Warlords: Daimyos.

These daimyos held lands, and under them were the samurai that served them.

Then under the samurai, we have farmers and artisans, and then merchants.

The daimyo would tear apart the shogunate in the most infamous era of Japanese history:

The Sengoku Jidai.

For over a century, from 1467 to 1603, every daimyo sought to seize position of shogun.

And so, many wars were waged and many battles fought, and here the samurai were in their element.

During this very era, Japan made contact with the Europeans... or, as they labeled them, "Nanban".

The merchants and missionaries of the Nanban spread Christianity and more importantly,

early age matchlock firearms, but began to change the way Japan thought of war.

The age of the warring states came to an end when Tokugawa Ieyasu was able to restore peace in 1603,

and established-- with the Emperor's permission-- the Tokugawa Shogunate.

If you want to learn more about this little old fellow, you can check out Jack Rackam's channel

for the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu...

or look at another video of his. You know, it's a free world? You can do whatever?

Ieyasu chose to distance the country from Europeans, fearing them as a destabilizing force.

When his elders came to power, Tokugawa Iemitsu, in 1623, reigned with an iron fist.

Christian converts were persecuted.

Every person was trapped into the class structure, and he had no tolerance for foreigners.

In 1637, Christians and Farmers revolted and Ietmitsu forced the Dutch to crush the revolt.

For the Dutch's service, they were allowed special privileges to trade as now Ietmitsu having the excuse to

expel all foreign vessels from his shores.

The Tokugawa Dynasty's methods of isolation and class restriction

worked to achieve peace and stability across the country...

but at a cost.

The strict rules of life meant the samurai were limited to being warriors--

warriors without a war.

The bottom of society, the merchants, found prosperity in peacetime,

soon out-earning the samurai meant to be above them.

And this prosperity?

Well, it was mainly found only in the city of Edo: The Tokugawa's pet project.

Outside the city, the peasantry still felt the hard life,

exacerbated by the strict taxes and restrictions from their class.

Tensions still sat between the Shogun and the Daimyo beneath him, too.

This period, known as the Edo Period, saw 200 years of peace...

and 200 years of tension build-up to a country ready to explode.

In the early 18th century, the restriction on Dutch books were lifted, and soon enough,

this gave way to Rangaku-- Dutch studies.

The books fascinated Japanese intellectuals who became obsessed with the west's exploration of

medicine, chemistry, astronomy, and more.

The shogun attempted to fight the research of these "barbarian" studies.

In 1825, the edict to repel foreign vessels would be implemented,

and led to many incidents of foreign vessels being repelled.

Who would have thought?

In 1837, they fired upon an unarmed US merchant ship.

The backlash from this and the news of China's humbling before the west

led to the Shogun repealing this edict in 1842.

Western influence into Japan could no longer be ignored.

The only question now was, "Could it be fought?"

The US had reaped rewards from the Opium War with China,

yet they still required more to fuel their mass industrialization at home.

The rich coal deposits and whales of Japan caught their attention

In 1853, the port of Edo, forbidden to any foreigner, would be encouraged upon by four giant steam ships armed with many cannons and even more

crewmen. Under the command of Commodore Matthew Perry, he dismissed the demands that he leave and was very adamant that he speak with the shogun,

Tokugawa Iemochi. He gave the shogun his ultimatum to open the country or the ships would no longer be for show.

He'd come back next year to hear their answer – with some more ships of course. The Japanese could not defeat the U.S.

The isolation had left them frozen in time.

No rifles, no seafaring navy, and certainly no industry. And so, Iemochi had two choices: to open the country or to repel the barbarians—

to shame himself or to die. He would decide to open the country, signing several unequal treaties with not only the U.S.,

but the U.K., Russia, France.

The Daimyo were very displeased.

Those that had been skeptical of the Tokugawa before now saw weakness in Iemochi.

Iemochi opened institute's to study barbarian technology, and western cultures became trendy in Edo, but those in the south became restless.

The Shishi, samurai of the Satsuma and Choshu domains,

saw Japan as sacred, and these treaties as infringing on that.

They loathed Iemochi for permitting this without the emperor's consent and began the movement of Sonno Joi: "revere the emperor,

expel the barbarians." Emperor Koumei agreed with the sentiment and broke imperial tradition by taking an active part in

politics.

In 1863, he ordered to expel the barbarians. The shogun would not enforce this, however. The Shishi began a series of assassinations

on important westerners in the country and also fired on foreign vessels from the coast.

The West responded with bombardment on the Shishi's homes,

and in 1864, when Shishi attempted to seize Kyoto (the seat of the imperial court) to secure the emperor's allegiance,

they were repelled by the shogun's newly formed police force.

Iemochi, without a single battle, took control of Choshu from its renegade Daimyo to attempt to quell the Shishi.

The instability had become clear though, and other Daimyo began to ignore the shogun's command. The Shishi learned from their mistakes and deemed they must

learn the ways of the Westerners. The phrase, "Japanese spirit, Western technology," became widely taught amongst their ranks.

Sir Harry Parks, Ambassador to the U.K., was in contact with Saigo

Takamori of Satsuma on how British arms and tactics could be used in the rebellion against the shogun. They retook Choshu and used their newfound

methods to drive the shogun away in 1866

Also in that year Iemochi died, and Yoshinobu took over, and the next year the young emperor Meiji succeeded his father

The shaken leadership spelled doom for any de-escalation.

Satsuma and Choshu formed a secret alliance, the Satcho Alliance. When Yoshinobu learned of this, he hired French advisors to begin

modernizing his forces. The Satcho Alliance deemed that in Meiji's name they must slaughter the traitorous subject,

Yoshinobu. Yoshinobu decided he could compromise,

resigning as shogun and serving under the emperor as head of a council. The Satsuma and Choshu

remained unsatisfied, and so the elements in the imperial court pressured the 15-year old Meiji to declare a full restoration of imperial powers in

1868. Yoshinobu was outraged and called upon his loyal daimyos to retake Kyoto.

The confusion was now clear: it was war.

The Satcho Alliance, representing the imperial court and with the support of the U.K., would have to topple the Centuries-old

Tokugawa Shogunate, who still held the support of many loyal Daimyo and the French. They first clashed outside Kyoto in January

1868 and the Imperial Forces Despite being outnumbered were fully modernized

Unlike the shogun they push back the shogun and Force his retreat to arrow as they set about securing all lands West of Kyoto

Parks made sure no Europeans intervened, as he knew the imperial forces could win this.

Saigo Takamori by May had already forced the surrender of both Edo and the shogun. Most Daimyo is now submitted to the emperor

But those in the North were flexible they formed the Northern alliance and said about equipping themselves

They weren't able to finish this before being defeated in October

By the close of 1868 the imperial Court transferred to Edo or by its new name, Tokyo

The Empire of Japan was born. Any remnants of resistance now organized themselves in the very north of Japan on the island of Hokkaido

They called themselves the Republic of Ezo. They were defeated in 1869

With the war over, Tokugawa lands were seized and all Daimyos convinced to return their lands to the emperor

Creating for the first time in history a centralized Japan. Considering the emperor was a boy, true

power rested in the hands of Meiji's cabinet. A group of young samurai

Bureaucrats who sought to modernize, unify and strengthen the country.

The country was in hysteria as the world menu was gone. From top-down ideas like public education,

Social mobility and a conscript army were thrust upon them and vastly unpopular. These men were attempting to achieve in decades

what took the west centuries. The conscript Army also made the Samurai obsolete and

Suddenly their privileges were stripped for them as a cabinet attempted to create a country based on Nationalistic pride

Not a feeble hierarchy. There was much upset about this.

Saigo Takamori proposed that the samurai could be reassigned- their skills employed in an invasion of Korea

When overruled and the samurai class threatened with utter destruction he left the government

Many of those that had fought for the emperor felt betrayed. This was no longer Japanese Spirit, Western Technology

This was a western Spirit, Western technology

Saigo's message to save the samurai became very popular in his home of Satsuma

Assassins sent by the Meiji government were discovered and rebellion was deemed necessary to protect Saigo

Saigo himself prepared an army to March to Tokyo and demand answers from the government in February 1877.

They met the obstacle of the resistant Kumamoto castle and were made to lay siege

Eventually they would be pushed back by the new pride of the Meiji government, the conscript Army

He'd make his last stand against the government at the battle of Shiroyama on September 24th outnumbered sixty to one

Saigo attempted to fight back the full frontal assault of the imperial army when only 40 of his men remained

And he badly wounded, he committed

Honorable seppuku as his samurai made their final charge against the enemy. Saigo had been defeated in every battle of the war

But his last stand for the samurai spoke volumes to the imperial court

He was recognized as a tragic hero and posthumously pardoned by Meiji in 1889

Japan in this Era had modernized and stood triumphant against western intrusion unlike their counterpart in China

However this required much sacrifice from them the society was completely changed and was unrecognizable

To honor those that could not make the transition, they brought in elements of Bushido- the Samurais code, into their new life

The powerful and forward-thinking empire created in the restoration would continue to achieve great feats

Humbling European powers such as Russia and Germany and conquering lands such as Korea,

Manchuria and many parts of China

It would however meet its bloody end in the second world war and the role of the emperor would retreat to that of a figurehead

Meiji himself had died in 1912. And frankly much of the credit for the reformation layed with his cabinet acting in his name

But poopoo for them, Meiji's Cabinet's restoration is a shit name. Japan's position in the modern day of the leader in tech

Industry and pacific politics was all made possible in the restoration and industrialized and reformed the nation

But it also paved the way for anime, so clearly a grave mistake has been made

This is the part where I thank the patrons that enable me to do this

like a poor parent enables their child to become an alcoholic and