Japan 1920s

By Siddharth Mohindra

Feudal Japan

Refers to the period before 1868 characterized by a decentralized power structure with daimyo controlling domains, a weak central government, a symbolic Emperor, samurai warrior class, and strict social hierarchy.

Daimyo

Powerful feudal lords in Japan who controlled small territories known as domains, maintaining their own armies and administrations.

Samurai

Highly trained warriors in feudal Japan who served their daimyo in exchange for land and protection.

Meiji Restoration

Refers to the period from 1868 to 1912 when Emperor Meiji led modernization efforts in Japan to resist Western imperialism, abolish feudal domains, disband the samurai class, and implement economic, social, and legal reforms.

Zaibatsu

Powerful industrial conglomerates that emerged in Japan as a result of state-led industrialization during the Meiji Restoration.

Meiji Constitution

Established in 1889, it transformed Japan into a constitutional monarchy with the Emperor as the nominal head of state and a bicameral parliament (Diet) with limited suffrage.

Social Mobility

The ability for individuals to move between social classes, facilitated by the abolition of the rigid class system during the Meiji Restoration.

Compulsory Education

Introduced during the Meiji era, it aimed to provide a more literate and skilled workforce by emphasizing literacy, mathematics, and loyalty to the state.

Legal Reforms

Changes in the legal system during the Meiji Restoration aimed to modernize Japan's legal framework, provide equal treatment under the law, and establish a constitutional monarchy.

New Middle Class

Emerged during the Meiji era, comprising entrepreneurs, professionals, and bureaucrats due to economic reforms, increased access to education, and social changes in Japan.