Crisis and Revolutionary Restoration

Tenpo famine

A famine that affected Japan from 1833-1838. Most severe in northern Honshū and was caused by flooding and cold weather. Caused many to flee rural areas.

Rebellion of Oshio Heihachiro (1837)

A failed rebellion against the Tokugawa shogunate in Osaka. Fueled partly by the Tenpo famine and the failures of the government to deal with its consequences. Merchants and officials were key targets.

Kurozumi-kyo and Tenri-kyo

Japanese new religions derived from Shinto roots. Emphasised healing, faith, search for prosperity and protection, and mutual aid.

Satsuma (Kyushu)

A domain in Kyushu that was successful at establishing economic reforms during the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It did not have close relationships to the Shogunate and was a key member of the Alliance that overthrew it.

Choshu (Honshu)

A domain in western Honshu that was successful at establishing economic reforms during the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It did not have close relationships to the Shogunate and was a key member of the Alliance that overthrew it.

Mito school

A nationalistic school of thought during the latter Tokugawa period that advocated cultural and economic renewal through the embrace of native traditions. Advocated strengthening of the emperor’s role.

Aizawa Seishisai was a prominent proponent.

Kokutai

A hyper nationalistic concept that was part of the Mito school. Argued that Japan’s civilization stands at the top of all others and should not be corrupted by western influence. Held that Japan was in a central place in the world.

Placed huge importance on the divine lineage of the imperial family.

Dutch Learning (Rangaku)

School of thought influenced by Western ideas. Led to the gradual adoption of Western knowledge especially in scientific fields such as medicine, astronomy, and physics.

1848 US war with Mexico

War in which the US obtained territories like California and leads to growing interest in Pacific affairs (and desire for new markets and fueling stations).

Commodore Matthew Perry

US official who led the mission to establish diplomatic relations with Japan and open trade in 1853.

Treaty of Kanagawa

A treaty between the US and Japan that opened two ports for foreign trade and allowed American diplomats to live in those ports in 1854.

The Harris Treaty

A treaty signed between the United States and Tokugawa Shogunate in 1858, which opened the ports of Kanagawa and four other Japanese cities to trade and granted extraterritoriality to foreigners, among a number of trading stipulations.

Sonno joi

Slogan of Yoshida Shoin from Choshu. Means: “Revere the emperor, expel the barbarians” Advocated greater imperial role. Call for direct action to remove corrupt officials.

Kaikoku

“Open the country”. Advocated by Sakuma Shōzan. Influenced by “Dutch Learning”.

Need to adopt Western technology and adapt to Japanese conditions. “Eastern ethics, Western science”.

Japanese fire on Western shipping

Anti-western forces, mostly from Western Japan, under the leadership of Satsuma and Choshu fired on Western ships but were defeated.

Abortive Choshu coup in Kyoto

An attack by Choshu rebels in Kyoto that sought to take control of the emperor from the bakufu to elevate him to his “proper“ position in 1864. Repelled by the bakufu. Forced Choshu to crack down on young extremists.

Shogunal forces invade Choshu

Punitive action for Choshu’s coup in Kyoto. Led to the bakufu briefly occupying Choshu in 1866 before being defeated by the new Choshu army.

Ii (Ee) ja nai ka movement

The carnivalesque riots that swept the country from the summer of 1867 to the spring of 1868. They began as religious celebrations and communal activities and eventually evolved into a protest that included fren- zied dancing, cross-dressing, nudity, sex and mob violence.

Meiji Restoration (January 1868)

Forces under the alliance of Satsuma, Choshu, (and Tosa) are successful in taking Edo in 1868. They declared that authority was restored to the emperor. Last Tokugawa resistence is crushed in 1869.