ONE JAPANThe Meiji Restoration

T H E C E N T U R Y ’ S I S S U E

Mei ji

Meiji, the new emperor of Japan

1868 -1912

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The New Leader of Japan MeijiA new leader, Emperor Meiji (original name Musuhito) has come to power...

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Russia declines Japanese OfferRussia has declined Japan’s offer of giving away China in exchange for Korea...

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WorkoutHow to be ripped like a samurai...

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The Effects of Shokusan KoygoWhat the promoting of Shokusan Koygo has done...

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The Interview of Emperor MeijiAn exclusive interview on the mighty new emperor...

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Quote of the Era The most important quote of the Meiji Era, as picked by One Japan...

we have a new ‘father’By Jun Geon Lee

Inside this Issue

PG 1

ith the gradual decline of the Tokugawa Shogunate due to the

forced opening of Japan by America and the Treaty of Kanagawa, many have awaited for a new, more responsible reign; indeed, a new reign has come in this year of 1867. With the support from the samurai clans of Satsuma, Choshu, Hizen and Tosa, emperor Mutsuhito, renamed Meiji (“enlightened rule”), has fought against the Towkugawa Shogunate, succeeded on bringing it down, and has taken the place of Japan’s ruler as Emperor.

It is said that the new Emperor Meiji will promote the interests of the political, social and economic aspects of Japan. In accordance, it is known for a fact that as New Emperor, Meiji will modernize Japan along the Western lines to ultimately fight off the

invading Westerners in Japan them selves; this is shown in the Imperial Oath of Five Articles (the Charter Oath) , especially in the fifth article, and the cries of sonno joi (‘rich country; strong military’) that appeared from this Oath.

Until now, it was common knowledge that the Americans have forcefully opened up Japan from isolation with armed troops, brining on unequal treaties (the Treaty of Kanagawa by Commodore Perry and Treaty of Edo by Townsend Harris) with them. After the arrival of the Americans, more foreign barbarians have come to Japan, such as the British, French and Russians. With the foreign governments provoked by the Satsuma and Choshu clans‘ attack on their ships, it is still a question to be asked.

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Russians Decline Offer of Japan’s ‘Korean Interest’By Jun Geon Lee

t the Imperial Conference of 1903, Russia had declined Japan’s offer of recognizing

Russia’s rights in Manchuria in exchange for Russia recognizing Japan’s rights in Korea. Though partially agreeing to Japan’s offer, Russia did not agree to Japan’s intentions to use Korea for ‘strategic purposes’, as this may threaten Russia’s South Manchurian Railway.

Japan reacted to Russia’s decline by implying a start of war. On February 8, 1904, Japanese naval forces attacked the Russian fleet at Port Arthur without any warning. Today, February 10th, Japan has declared open war on Russia. With Japan having previously fought the Sino-Japanese War, the western nations are waiting to see if Japan again can beat a powerful leading nation in war.

Even before Russia’s declining of Japan’s offer, there has been a tense relationship between the two countries. Japan, provoked by the

Triple Intervention in which Russia, Germany, and France took away the Liao Tung Peninsula from Japan, and afraid of the political and economic potential of Russia due to its rapid growth (including the building of the South Manchurian Railway), had made an Anglo-Japanese Alliance with the

British. This Alliance states that Britain’s interest in China and Japan’s in Korea would be respected by each other, and that each nation should help the other if their special interests in those countries were threatened. In short, Russia’s expansion to China and Korea was to be halted.

A

The South Manchurian Railway in China, currently in possession of Russia.

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LIFESTYLE: The New Trend of Fashion By Kimoto Minami

Nowadays, it is not enough for men to go around wearing a warrior-suit, two swords, and a hastily tied topknot to grab a partner for Sunday night’s formal party. Maybe the classic samurai outfit would work to appeal to the women’s need for masculine merits; but in a wearing this in a dance party? No, that would not do. In the modern days of life, what is really needed is an elegant, delicate, western-styled morning coat. With its resemblance to any clothes of a western man, the morning coat displays a rather gentle, sweet image -just what the women nowadays want-. So put on those fresh trendy clothes and lets go hunting! PG 2

LIFESTYLE: Yours truly Workout Method: the Secret to a SamuraiBy Akami Sibalata

hat takes a young, scrawny, weak little boy to become a mature, ripped, strong

samurai? The hidden secret has been found: the co-working of cardiovascular exercises, weights and sword swinging, but all on the same day!! Through years of research and experience, samurai Arnold Hong (35), claims that the moving of the heavy bamboo sword for training samurais does indeed help with the biceps, but that excessive repetition and a too regular work out method such as the typical samurai’s “daily sword swinging” will actually cause the muscles to become damaged and harmed.

Arnold Hong introduces a new, more scientific way of working

out properly. He claims that, the best way for one to be a fit, accomplished samurai is to follow a certain schedule that he created: on the first day, the pre-samurai should run to work on burning the cumulated fat and to increase cardiovascular endurance. On the second day, the pre-samurai should work solely on weights; nothing else. This way a strong, firm layer of muscle will increase the pre-samurai’s strength, and become ready for the final day of exercise. On the final day of exercise, the pre-samurai should work on the techniques of using a sword, which will help to practice all cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and technical skills a samurai may need.

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What I don’t get is that, why would the oligarchy banish Okuma from the government for his ideas??”

Kazama HinshenOkuma’s Official Fan Club Vice President

Recently, I’ve seen our Japanese government working for a new constitution. I agree with the problems pointed out in the first constitution, the lacking of a modern constitution and national parliament. I also agree with the oligarch’s idea to make a senate and work gradually towards a new Meiji Constitution. What I don’t get is that, why would the oligarchy banish Okuma from the government for his ideas? I am a devout follower of Okuma, I believe what he does; in order to satisfy Japan’s needs to become a nation powerful enough to compete with the western nations, we should be

making a constitution that is modeled from the parliamentary system of Britain, and not the Prussians. The Prussians method of revering the Emperor is known to be false; most people know that he is just a figure head, and that the oligarchy hold the real power. Then why not just legally allow the oligarchy to hold power in the first place? We simply do not need a figure-head Emperor anymore.

Shadow dueling -pretending to duel with a nonexistent person- is one method of sword-technique training.

Editorial: what’s up with this constitution anyways!By Kazama Hinshen

PG 3

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lorem & i psum

The Economy is Developing, why isn’t my life? By Sugimoto Yama

Surely, the shokusan koygo did help our country’s economy. But why isn’t it helping us, the peasants? The new land tax has forced us to pay 3 per cent of our annual crop to the government. This tax rate is too high; it is a burden for us farmers, and unless it is reduced somehow, we farmers will suffer even more.

Sick of riding horses? Well then here’s your chance for a change in transportation. Now with our new railway system of transportation, people are able to reach destinations more quickly, more efficiently.

EditorialShokusan Koygo; what good did it doBy Ekisaku Nawami

From 1868 to 1881, the shokusan koygo policy started by Emperor Meiji for the purpose of industrialization has helped to strengthen the economy of Japan by far. In the end, this restoration program gave Japan a new economic outlook, allowing the country to become modernized, and almost be in equal states with the Western Nations.

The shokusan koygo promoted the developing of defense industries, where foreign instructors came to Japan to teach the Japanese about engineering, mining and ship building. In addition, early financial problems such as the imbalance in expenditure and gained revenue, the diversity of currency and the failing American banking system were all fixed during this period. A new land tax was introduced where farmers were forced to pay 3 per cent of their annual crop to the government to fix the imbalance, a unified currency of Yen was made, and a European-style banking system was introduced to the Japanese banks. Modern communication systems such as the telegraph and railways were put into use, and the zaibatsu, individual industry owning companies provided Japan with a strong financial base

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The Great Sake Shop

and promoted economic growth. The making of the shokusan koygo policy came with the ending of feudalism, which had previously used an old financial and administrative system. This system was one in which three quarters of the work force was focused on agriculture and the industries still used outdated methods for production. Now, with Westernization trends that came with the shokusan koygo, it is a small wonder if Japan can develop to be one of the world’s most modernized nations.

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The new currency, Yen

To have an insight into the predicted future of Japan, the One Japan Magazine journalist Yagaza Sang has requested a Q&A interview section with the New Leader of Japan; Emperor Meiji.

Q: Your Majesty, I take it that your original name was Mutsuhito? When and why did you change your name to Meiji?

A: The time when I changed my name was when I was fifteen years old, in 1867, just after the Satsuma, Chosu, Hizen and Tosa clans helped me to bring the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Well, Meiji means “enlightened rule”, so I guess the name was changed to show my intends to enlighten, and modernize the country to the western standards, creating a rich country and strong military in order to compete with the other major nations.

Q: How exactly are you planning to do this?

A: Well, I am not too sure yet, but I have already issued the Imperial Oath of Five Articles, and in Article 5, I clearly stated that “knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule”. It is not something of tangible value, but it is a sentimental start to acquire knowledge and gain power.

Q: So there is no actual change yet?

A: Not yet; but definitely soon.

Q: All right, thank you, see you next time, your Majesty.

This interview was taken right before the Constitution of 1868 was made in June to bring the Charter Oath into actual act. I hope to see even more improvement, now, with time, that the Emperor wi& make on this country.

The Interview of the Era: Emperor MeijiConducted by Yagaza Sang

Japan as it is Today

Emperor Meiji and his Imperial Oath of Five Articles

A map of modern Japan and its cities

The Era’s Cartoon

The unenlightened, half-enlightened and enlightened Japanese man. (Cartoon )om Investigating Japan, Grant Miocevich, pg 29) PG 5

Worried about the hospital fees for the disease you can’t pay for? Then its time for some help.

Bakcha Insurance Co.

“Defense, therefore became the main task of the new government, while those numerous Japanese whose fear of the Western nations was mingled with admiration of their prowess overseas considered that the adoption of Western material equipment might enable Japan to find a place among the aggressors instead of among the victims of aggression,”

AnonymousHistorian of the Meiji Era

ONE JAPANThe Meiji Restoration

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Jun geon leeOne Japan Magazine

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QUOTe of the era

Picture not provided. This quote’s has been said anonymously

PG 6