Industrialization in Japan - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

Japan's transformation during the late 19th century remains a pivotal chapter in world history. The period between 1868 and 1898, marked by Japan's industrial revolution, brought forth a sweeping wave of change that impacted the nation's economy, social fabric, and military prowess. Intricacies of this transformative era, shedding light on its causes, the reforms initiated by the Meiji Government, its repercussions on Japanese industrialization, and how it distinguished itself from the Western industrial revolution.

The Meiji Restoration: Paving the Path for Industrialization

• The Meiji era, which commenced in 1867, laid the groundwork for Japan's industrialization and modernization. In a bid to strengthen their nation and fend off potential colonization by foreign powers, the Meiji authorities undertook a dramatic shift in governance. They disbanded Japan's domains, replacing them with centrally controlled prefectures. This move was a critical step towards consolidating power under the government's aegis, ensuring a unified political force in the nation.
• In a pursuit of modernization, Japanese leaders embarked on the Iwakura Mission, a voyage of observation and learning to the United States and Europe. This endeavor, which included numerous students, would significantly influence Japan's development.

The Meiji Restoration: A Wider Transformation

The Meiji Restoration of 1868 marked not only the end of the Tokugawa shogunate but also the demise of the Edo period in Japanese history. This period, spanning from 1868 to 1922, witnessed extensive political, economic, and social transformations that propelled Japan towards modernization and Westernization. It was under the Meiji Restoration that Japan saw the birth of a new era.

The Catalysts for Japan's Industrial Revolution

• At the dawn of the 18th century, Japan was predominantly agrarian, devoid of a robust military and technology sector. To change this status quo, Japan underwent sweeping political, economic, and social reforms. The Emperor reclaimed power and crafted a new constitution, establishing a parliamentary system akin to Western societies. These reforms catalyzed Japan's modernization and Westernization.
• By the end of the Meiji era in 1912, Japan had transformed into a formidable nation with a strong military, advanced industries, a burgeoning labor force, and a well-developed infrastructure for transportation and communication.

Key Milestones of Japan's Industrial Revolution

The industrial revolution in Japan, initiated with the onset of the Meiji era in 1868, ushered in several critical changes:

Japan's Unique Path to Industrialization

Japan's industrialization path diverged significantly from that of the Western world. Unlike Western nations, Japan did not follow the gradual progression from light industry to heavy industry. Instead, it embraced various sectors simultaneously, including shipbuilding, iron, steel, and textiles. This divergence can be attributed to Japan's unique circumstances, where state intervention played a substantial role in industrial development.

Reforms Spearheaded by the Meiji Government

The Meiji Government initiated a series of reforms to promote capitalism in Japan. These reforms included:

• The elimination of the feudal system, guild of merchants, and the checkpoint system, which had hindered industrial growth.
• The establishment of modern infrastructure, such as the telegraph line, postal service, and rail services.
• Patronage and support for private businesses, which eventually competed with Western corporations.

This period also witnessed the rise of prominent companies like Mitsubishi and Mitsui, which played pivotal roles in Japan's industrial transformation.

Impact of Industrialization on Japan

Japan's industrialization led to profound changes in its economic, military, and social spheres. Traditional practices gave way to modernity, as western fashions, the calendar, and the metric system gained prominence. However, the industrialization process also brought challenges, such as declining living conditions in crowded cities and political turbulence fueled by frequent elections and power struggles.

Social and Cultural Effects of Industrialization

• Massive population growth took place, which provided cheap labour but put a strain on resources and stability.
• The government implemented a universal education program emphasizing science, technology, and national loyalty in the cultural sphere.
• The ancient indigenous religion of Japan, known as Shintoism, which is characterized by the veneration of nature spirits and ancestors, gained new followers.
• Along with the calendar and the metric system, western fashions in clothing and personal hygiene were adopted.
• The birth rate decreased due to population growth forcing people off the land and factory labor making kids less useful.
• The traditional view that women were subordinate in the home persisted, and formal eating and manners were upheld.

Effect on Foreign Policy

• Foreign policy was impacted by Japan’s shifting economic power. They joined the imperialist nations by the 1890s. This change provided the populace with nationalist stimulation and gave the exiled samurai a purpose.
• The demand for raw materials in Japan contributed to pressure growth.
• In 1894–1895, Japan and China fought over Korea; Japan’s quick victory revealed the existence of new Asian power.
• It became an equal partner in the great power diplomatic system in 1902 thanks to an alliance with Britain.
• Rivalry with Russia led to war in 1904, when Japan won again, and in 1910, Korea was annexed.
• Japan’s rise had altered the global diplomatic landscape by the beginning of the twentieth century. While Japan was still a relatively insignificant world power, Westerners worried about a “Yellow Peril” as they observed its rise.

Effect of Modernization

• The costs of Japanese success included low living standards in congested cities and disputes between generations over Westernization.
• Political assassinations and frequent elections were caused by conflicts between newly formed political parties and the emperor and his ministers.
• Many intellectuals were concerned about losing their identity in a changing world, while others were troubled by the lack of job opportunities for the growing educated class.

What was the difference between the industrial revolution in the West and the industrial revolution in Japan?

Japan’s Industrial Revolution had many characteristics that set it apart from the western industrial revolution.

• Scientific inventions and discoveries served as the foundation for Western industrialization. West had to make all technological discoveries by itself. While Japan began where the West had left off at the time. The majority of the technologies and equipment were reverse-engineered.
• Japan industrialized much more quickly than the West. It took 30 years for it to become decently industrialized.
• Normal industrialization in Western nations has progressed from light industry, such as textiles, to mining and metallurgy, chemicals, and mass-produced goods. While Japan’s railways were established before the iron and steel industry because the raw materials and components were imported, and the textile industry was established almost simultaneously with shipbuilding, iron, steel, etc.
• Both iron and coal were abundant in the industrial areas of the West. On the other hand, Japan was deficient in these resources and heavily dependent on imports. As a result, the heavy machinery industry in Japan expanded closer to the sea.
• The West's capital for the industrial revolution came from the colonies and was voluntarily invested by powerful landowners and businessmen. It was a state-enforced extraction from the agricultural sector in Japan.
• The private sector was in charge of the industrial revolution in the West, especially in Britain. While in Japan, the state played a significant role.
• Early industrializers like Britain had much lower entry costs than later industrializers like Japan because they could use relatively affordable technology and had fewer rivals.
• In Japan, the expansion of the modern economy was closely related to the needs of the armed forces. The modern sector expanded as military spending rose, as it did during the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars.

Thus, Japanese industrialization differed significantly from Western industrialization. However, Japan copied Western nations’ innovations, educational systems, and other positive traits.

The Global Perspective

Japan's rise on the global stage did not go unnoticed. As Japan's power and influence expanded, Western nations expressed concerns about the "Yellow Peril." This term was coined as Western observers witnessed Japan's ascent and speculated on its potential threat.

Conclusion

The Japan Industrial Revolution (1868-1898) was a pivotal period that saw Japan's transition from an agrarian society to a modern industrial powerhouse. This unique journey, marked by the Meiji Restoration and a series of reforms, set Japan on a distinctive path to industrialization.