Japanese Mottos
What does "Civilization and Enlightenment" mean?
Adopting Western ideas to modernize.
What did the Conscription Law require?
3 years of military service and 4 in reserves.
What is the Imperial Diet?
Japan's two-part government (Peers and Representatives).
What is a haiku?
A 3-line poem with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern.
Who was the emperor during the Meiji Restoration?
Emperor Meiji.
What does "Western Science, Japanese Essence" mean?
Blending Western technology with traditional values.
What islands did Japan acquire?
Ryukyu, Kurile, Bonin.
What phrase described the Emperor's power?
Sacred and Inviolable.
What does Kabuki theatre involve?
Drama with makeup, costumes, and exaggerated performance.
Who led the samurai rebellion in 1877?
Saigo Takamori.
What does "Wealthy Country, Strong Army" emphasize?
Economic and military power.
What wars did Japan win during this time?
Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars.
Who truly controlled the government during early Meiji?
The oligarchy.
What did Westerners find strange in Japanese culture?
Sitting on the floor, communal baths, and topknots.
Who opened Japan with black ships?
Matthew Perry.
Why did Japan change its national motto over time?
To balance modernization with preserving tradition.
Why was militarization important to Japan?
To protect itself and gain international respect.
What were two rights citizens received in the Constitution?
Speech, religion, privacy, property, movement.
What was Japan's view of Americans at first?
They were seen as strange giants with wild features.
What role did the oligarchs play?
They made major government decisions for the emperor.
Which motto came after the backlash against Westernization?
Western Science, Japanese Essence.
What did the victory over Russia in 1905 symbolize?
Japan's arrival as a major global power.
What part of government did the citizens vote for?
The House of Representatives.
What is "culture shock"?
Disorientation felt when encountering a new culture suddenly.
What was Saigo Takamori's legacy?
He represented both modernization and traditional samurai values.