Above is a picture of the first railway line to be constructed

between Tokyo and Yokohama and another line to be built between Kobe and Osaka.

Inside this issue Turn the page for more information on the Meiji Period.

Under the pressure of the west and

compacted with financial problems, Japan decides to put an end to the isolation from the world. To be equal with the western countries, Emperor Meiji makes a resolution

to solve the financial problems and

to become a “rich country” with a

“strong military”. In order to

succeed that goal, it is mandatory

to overcome the financial problems rooted in Japan. Problems such as inflation running high, internal revenue dropping, and the

currency lying in chaos. Three major changes were established

today to overcome the economic crisis. First, early today the exchange of clan notes or paper money was suspended and it is obligatory to follow the new unit of currency of yen. Since the failing of the American system, Japan’s banks has been in poor condition.

(continued on pg 2)

By: Jennifer Chen

Meiji takes step to improve the economy!

1 8 6 8 - 1 9 1 2 O F T H E M E I J I P E R I O D

MEIJI TIMESthe

pg 1- Meiji takes step to improve the economypg 2- Japan comes to peace once morepg 3- Japan comes to peace once more cont’dpg 4- Fashion sensepg 5- Editorial section (Westernization)pg 6- Interview with Yishunato (woman’s rights)pg 7- Political Cartoon and map

Page 1

It is decided that American system

of banking will be changed to the European-style system of banking. The emperor hopes that by

changing the system to European

style, will help the financial problems. The last change is a new

introduction to land tax. Due to

the trouble of financial problems, since 1873, the government had

used harsh taxation to erase the heavy public spending. With the new amendment introduced today

of the new land tax, it is hoping to

decrease the tax paid by the peasants.Since 1868, Japan was a non-

industrialized country, so early in

the morning Meiji declared the launch of heavy industry,

engineering, mining and

engineering, technical and naval schools will be opened soon.

Various institutions will be created

for training in the manufacture of guns and the best Japanese students will be sent abroad to

master the techniques required in

the key industries. The Meiji government is planning to employ

the best foreign experts to increase mineral production in Japan.

With these changes, Japan will

soon become a leading country.

With these in mind, Meiji decides to build modern communications such as the telegraph and railway.

The first railway line is carefully

planned to be constructing between Tokyo and Yokohama and

another similar line to be built from Kobe to Osaka. Hopefully,

the telegraph lines can soon link all the major Japanese cities together, making it an easy

transportation.

Japan comes to peace once more!The Russo-Japanese war has come to an end. Accepting the offer made by Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America,

the bloody war between Japan

and Russia has come to a final stop. The signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth was held yesterday on

September 5th, 1905, which finally

brought the war to an end. The treaty was given the advantage to

Japan with the main provisions of Russia recognizing Japan’s interests in Korea, the lease of the Peninsula will be transferred to

Japan, Russia surrendering its control of the South Manchurian

Railway to Japan, Japan gets hold

of the southern half of the island of Sakhalin and both nations had

agreed not to interfere with any

decision China might make in the future to develop Manchuria. At the Imperial conference held last year, Japan offered to recognize Russia’s rights in Manchuria if Russia would recognize its interests in Korea. However, Russia did not agree to the offer. (continued on page 3)

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Page 2

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On February 8th, 1904, naval forces caused severe damage at the Port Arthur, two days after that event, war was declared. Within three months of the Russo-Japanese war, Russian troops were driven

out of Korea. Although the Japanese army may suffer heavy

losses, they had pushed north into

Manchuria, crossing the Yalu

River and capturing Port Arthur and then the city of Mukden. The Japanese navy under Admiral Togo routed the Russian fleet in

the Straits of Tsushima. Even

though it was a bloody battle, Japan had won victory and Japan

is at peace once more. Japan had

now gone through wars with the two powerful countries, China and

Russia. With these two wars, Japan has proved to other countries its strong military. Nine years ago, ships were sunk and

men ruthlessly shot at Port Arthur. The bloody war fought in

Port Arthur lasted three months, but turned out to be one of the fiercest battles Japan had ever fought. Killing everyone they saw,

corpses laid helplessly on the street. Many Chinese died in that way,

shot, fired, slashed or raped. With

the loss of control, the Japanese soon took control. This massacre and the rest of the Sino-Japanese war greatly threatened Japan’s international reputation, but was

also a big turning point for Japan’s hisotry.

(See page 6 for map)

The massacre at Port Arthur between 1894 to 1895. This deadly battle killed

up to 60,000 Chinese.

By: Haijigomo Nanimakey

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Sushi Rice600 ml Water60 ml Rice Vinegar30 ml Sugar5 ml Salt

Wash and cook the rice. Prepare your sushi vinegar, mixing bowl and fan your rice. You’re done!

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"A gigantic fleet... has massed in Pearl Harbor. This fleet will be utterly crushed with one blow at the very beginning of hostilities...Heaven will bear witness to the righteousness of our struggle."-Rear-Admiral Ito (Chief of Staff of the Combined Fleet)

Page 3

FASHION SENSE

Western  fashions  are  coming  to  Japan!  Before  the laws passed by the  shogun  in 1643 imposed  a dress code that revealed an individual’s social status. Only members  of  the  higher  class  like  the  nobles  or members  of  the  military  class  were  permitted  to wear luxurious,  and  decorate  themselves with  fancy sashes.  Upper  classes  could  wear  silks  and  satins while the peasants were limited to hemp and cotton. But now that  the  laws  have  been  abolished,  people are  allowed  to  wear  whatever  they  please.  The government even decided that Western dress should be  worn  for  all  court  and  ofGicial  ceremonies.  The fashion of wearing western style clothes started after the emperor appeared in western dress, government ofGicials  and  the  educated  leaders  began  wearing western  style  clothing  in  public.  Shortly afterwards, women  also  began  wearing  western  dresses  in public,  following  the  example  of  the  Empress.  The women now wear western dress or Japanese kimono. Everywhere  one  looks  around;  people  are 

wearing  western  style  clothing,  even  having western style  haircuts.  Following the  example of the  emperor  who  cut  off  his  topknot,  many Japanese  men  nowadays  began  to  do  likewise. Nowadays having mustaches and beards became the norm. Today it is also found very fashionable to wear hats and watches.                                           By Kabonaki Nunando

Western style clothing are seen. In this picture, a girl is posing

with her white silky dress.

Page 4

WesternizationNow  everywhere  one  glimpses,  is  the  site  of westernization.  The  Japanese  people  are  now becoming all westernized and as the development of westernization  goes on,  it  is a  closer step to  losing our own culture. I think it is very pointless to follow the west. As I was a samurai before, I  have seen how westernization  has  affected  many  lives  of  the samurai.  The  wonderful,  luxurious  privileges  we once  had,  are  all  gone  and  replaced;  even  the  old feudal hierarchy is replaced with new social classes. I believe this way of classing people is not beneGicial. It  is  just  a  way  of  Meiji  wanting  to  remove  the privileges  we  once  had.  When  I  was  still  a  young samurai,  the wearing  of  swords and  topknots were mandatory, which were  the  signs of  a  true samurai. Now  that  westernization  starts  to  happen,  the wearing  of  swords  are  now  optional  and  allowed men  to  cut  off  their  topknots.  Many  samurais refused  to  do  so,  including  me,  as  that  action  is insulting  the  rights of  the  samurais.  As  years past, conscripted  civilians took over the military roles of samurais  and  soon  the  wearing  of  swords  were prohibited  in  public  except  on  ceremonials occasions. The sudden drop of privileges even led to a  rebellion  which  was  the  Satsuma  Rebellion.  My friend,  Saigo  Takamori,  who  was  a  very  strong leader of the Satsum forces, led the rebellion.   With 30,000  ex  samurai,  they  had  a  battle  against government forces. I was a part of  that rebellion but soon  the rebellion was defeated and took the  life  of my  friend.  The  government’s  only  goal  was  to become  a  powerful country but does not take good care of its citizens. The Japanese living  in towns and cities are keen to adopt western ideas and fashions. 

Editorial SectionAs  for  food,  clothing  and  education,  all  will  be changed  in  the  attempt  to  imitate  all  aspects  of western  culture.    At  the  present,    the  world  is dominated by western countries,  in order to be equal it  was  necessary  to  adopt  not  only Western  science and  technology  but  all  aspects  of  Western  culture. That  I  do  not  agree.  I believe  it  is  best  to  stay with traditional  institutions and  believes  that  Japan  could only become strong if it had a revolution in values and ideas.  Imitating  the west will not solve that problem, nor will it make us equal  to the west. To be equal, we have  to  develop  our  own  beliefs  and  thinking  and have  our  unique  way  of  living  life.  That  is  what  I believe is right.                                                     By: Hotoshibu Ashitowa

Page 5

Satsuma rebellion: a war between ex-samurai and the Meiji government.

I N T E RV I E W W I T H YISHUNATOMino: Hi everyone, welcome to

today’s interview with Yishunato, a normal woman living in Japan.

Today we will be talking about

woman’s rights. So...nice to meet you Yishunato.

Yishunato: Hello, nice to meet you too.

Mino: Let’s start with what you

think about the new laws of woman’s right in Japan.

Yishunato: Well...I think that it is very unreasonable how our status

dropped to be so low. We no longer

have personal property at home and outside the house we have no

status.

M i n o : Wo w. . . t h a t i s v e r y

unreasonable. Were there any

other changes?

Yishunato: Yes. The house I live in

belongs to the male members of the household and my children

belong to my husband. I have no

property, rights or children. We are forbidden to make public speeches

and are banned to participate in any political activities. What is

more unfair is that we can not even

listen to the political speeches! It is so inequitable.

Mino: I see. I never knew the new law can change the life of a

woman. I only heard about the

flesh trade. What do you have to say about the flesh trade?

Yishunato: Well... my little sister

was traded to Singapore which was the centre of brothel prostitution in

South East Asia. She was sold off

by our parents when she was only ten years old, because our family

was too poor and had no choice. I haven’t heard from her since.

Mino: That is very unfortunate.

You should be grateful you do not have the faith like your sister. To

sum up this interview, do you have anything you wish to add?

Yishunato: I just hope that the

flesh trade will end soon and the unfaithful Japanese girls can find a

way out of brothel prostitution.

Mino: Thank you for being in this

interview. We learnt a lot from

what you’ve told us about the new law of woman’s rights and this will

be the end of our Sunday Interview.

Yishunato: Thank you.

Page 6

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Japans’ new law of women rights dropped all the

women’s statuses.

Russo- Japanese War Map(Refer to page 2)

In order to keep up with the West, Japan decides to westernize. They started having bubble bath like the west, while using Japan’s O-Furo (Japanese tub).

Westernization- Political Cartoon