Lecture 03 Meiji 1
Download as PPTX, PDF2 likes1,045 views
The document discusses Japan's economic development during the Meiji period, focusing on the impact of Western influence after Commodore Perry's arrival in 1853 and the subsequent end of the Edo period. It highlights the shift towards rapid industrialization, the introduction of unequal treaties, and the role of key figures in promoting economic growth and modernization. Additionally, it outlines the government's goals of revising these treaties, modernizing the military, and establishing a constitutional government.
![Okubo’s Proposal Concerning Promotion of the
Nation’s Fundamental Capacities, 1876
“…If we are to turn the tide around and correct the situation [of
slow economic progress, trade deficits, etc.], we have no choice
but to encourage private business and international trade by
mobilizing effective policies to cultivate fundamental strengths of
economic activities and expand commercial profit. If we do not
regard this as the duties of the government and leave the matter
to people’s own devices and simply wait for the results, will the
decline ever stop? This is the most pressing of all national issues.
Even though such policy may not be endorsed by the orthodox
doctrine of political economy, rules must be revised to respond to
the urgent needs of our time.”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lec03-150307154055-conversion-gate01/85/Lecture-03-Meiji-1-11-320.jpg)
Lecture 03 Meiji 1
- 1. Economic Development of Japan No.3 Meiji 1
- 2. Second Arrival of the West and End of Edo • US Commodore Perry and his “Black Ships” came to Edo Bay and used military threat to open up Japan (1853-54) • Trade with West began under unequal treaties (1858: no tariff right, no court right), which brought social and economic changes • Fights over pro- and anti-foreigner forces, and pro- and anti- Bakufu forces began, eventually toppling Bakufu (1867) M.C. Perry (1794-1858) Black Ships Odaiba No.3 (bakufu’s fortified island) Support Bakufu Support Emperor Anti- foreigner Satsuma Han Choshu Han Open door Meiji Govt PP.40-42 1862 1865 1866
- 3. Hans that produced many leaders (Alternative place names in parentheses)
- 4. Edo July 1853 (4 ships) Feb.1854 (7 ships) O-daiba (forts) Perry’s Entry into Edo Bay 1853-54 Yokohama Uraga Kurihama New forts Signing of Japan-US Friendship Treaty in Yokohama, Mar.1854
- 5. • Open ports: Yokohama, Nagasaki, Hakodate, Hyogo, Niigata • Unequal treaties with West vs. no travel rights for foreigners • Rise of Yokohama merchants • Rapid westernization and technology import begin • Inflation, relative price changes, rise and fall of industries PP.41-42 Fake color photos of early Yokohama 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Export Im port Silk Tea Cotton yarn Cotton fabrics W oolen goods Resumed International Trade Trade 1876-80 From UK To US
- 6. Cumulativehistory,Edoachievements, nationalunityandnationalism Private-sector dynamism and entrepreneurship (primary force) Policy support (supplementary) Japan’s economic growth was driven mainly by private dynamism while policy was also helpful Policy was generally successful despite criticisms: --Power monopoly by former Satsuma & Choshu politicians --Privatization scandal, 1881 --Excessively pro-West --Unfair by today’s standard Rapid industrialization esp. Meiji and post WW2 period P.56
- 7. Meiji Government: Radical Reformist Initially, avoid colonization by the West Rapid modernization and Westernization Become “first-class” nation on a par with West • Political goal - abolish feudalism and class society; introduce Western style constitution and parliament • Economic goal - industrialization based on rapid adoption of Western technology • External goals - (1) revise unequal treaties as soon as possible; (2) modernize army & navy, establish “sphere of influence” around Japan P.43 Fukoku Kyohei (富国強兵) - Enrich the country, strengthen the military Shokusan Kogyo （殖産興業） - Increase production, encourage industry
- 8. --Organized quickly after abolishing hans --Half the cabinet - Iwakura (leader), Okubo, Ito, Kido, Yamaguchi, and other high officials (46); attendants (12), students (49); total 107 members Purpose 1: Start renegotiating unequal treaties (failed) Purpose 2: Inspect Western systems and technology Official report with illustrations by Kunitake Kume (scholar) <Results> (1) Valuable inputs for policy making (2) Conflicts with “home-keeping” gov’t (leaders who stayed home) Iwakura Mission (Dec.1871-Sep.1873) P.44
- 9. Toshimichi Okubo (1830-1878) • Formerly, lower samurai from Satsuma Han • Top-down promoter of technology import and industrialization (after returning from Iwakura Mission) • Political influence—Councilor (Minister) of Finance; then Councilor of Home Affairs • Policy measures: --Supporting zaibatsu (Iwasaki, Godai) to promote industries and import substitution (shipping, etc) --Establishment of SOEs and research institutes --Trade & industry exhibitions (for Japanese products) --Set up ministries, police and local governments --Send troops to Taiwan; suppress Saigo Rebellion PP.44-45 Okubo Saigo
- 10. Okubo’s Back-to-Office Report after Iwakura Mission, 1874 “The strength of a country depends on the prosperity of its people which, in turn, is based on the level of output. To increase output, industrialization is essential. However, no country has ever initiated the process of industrialization without official guidance and promotion.” Okubo’s Proposal on Constitutional Politics, 1873 “Monarchy is a thing of the past, but we are not yet ready for democracy. Moreover, the central government must have strong authority for the time being to carry out bold reforms. Thus, the most practical system Japan can now adopt is … constitutional monarchy.
- 11. Okubo’s Proposal Concerning Promotion of the Nation’s Fundamental Capacities, 1876 “…If we are to turn the tide around and correct the situation [of slow economic progress, trade deficits, etc.], we have no choice but to encourage private business and international trade by mobilizing effective policies to cultivate fundamental strengths of economic activities and expand commercial profit. If we do not regard this as the duties of the government and leave the matter to people’s own devices and simply wait for the results, will the decline ever stop? This is the most pressing of all national issues. Even though such policy may not be endorsed by the orthodox doctrine of political economy, rules must be revised to respond to the urgent needs of our time.”
- 12. Yataro Iwasaki (1835-85) • Seisho (政商) from Tosa, founder of Mitsubishi Zaibatsu • Shipping company--grew fast with government support (receiving gov’t ships, contract for military transport) • Established Nippon Yusen (NYK Line), fierce battle with Kyodo Unyu (anti-Mitsubushi company), 1883-85 • Expanded to many areas: trade, banking, shipbuilding, coal, mining (later, more) Bakufu’s Steel Mill in Nagasaki, transferred to Mitsubishi in 1884 Mechanical factory in Nagasaki, ca 1885 PP.45-46 三菱
- 13. Subsidies for Targeted Industry: The Case of Shipping & Ship Building • Navigation Promotion Law (1896) – subsidizing maritime transport operators if: - Operate international routes - Large ships over 1,000 tons - Fast domestic ships These targets were raised in steps offering more incentives • Shipbuilding Promotion Law (1896) – subsidizing building of steel ships over 700 tons (later 1000 tons)
- 14. Source: Yoshio Ando (ed), Databook on Modern Japanese Economy, 2nd ed., Univ. of Tokyo Press, 1979. Financial Structure of Nippon Yusen Subsidies Received by Shipbuilders Tons Ship Production Thousands of yen Total Tonnage Ship Horsepo wer Engine Mitsubishi 43 6055.5 207.4 5146.4 181.8 909.0 Kawasaki 34 2379.0 96.7 1912.0 93.4 467.0 Osaka 30 618.7 30.5 478.3 24.1 140.4 Ishikawajima 2 53.0 2.5 43.0 2.0 10.0 Ono 1 12.2 0.8 9.5 0.5 2.7 Uraga 2 47.8 2.7 47.8 0.0 0.0 TOTAL 113 9166.2 340.6 7637.0 301.8 1529.1 Subsidies received forNo. of ships built Million yen Revenue Subsidy Cost Profit 1886-90 21.8 4.4 21.3 4.9 1891-95 33.0 4.5 28.3 9.2 1896-00 59.6 14.9 63.1 11.4 1901-05 94.5 18.9 92.6 20.8 1906-10 108.3 26.0 118.9 15.4 1911-15 145.5 24.0 141.7 27.8
- 15. Eiichi Shibusawa (1840-1931) From Saitama Tomoatsu Godai (1836-1885) From Satsuma Super business promoters -- but they did not form zaibatsu P.46 -Initially, anti-bakufu fighter -Next, assistant to last shogun -Works vigorously for MOF (invited by Meiji Government) -President of First “National” Bank” -Company builder and business coordinator for many years -Social contributions (See handout or go to museum) -Studies and builds human network in Nagasaki -Visits UK; realizes need to industrialize, writes report -In Osaka, helps to create copper co., railroad, shipping co., rice & stock exchanges, cham. of commerce, university, test centers, trading center, etc -SOE privatization scandal
- 16. Rise and Fall of Merchants and Enterprises 0 50 100 150 200 250 1849 1864 1875 1888 1902 Persons Millionaires of Edo period New millionaires of Late Edo New millionaires in early Meiji New millionaires in company boom period Source: Computed from Miyamoto (1999）, p.53. Each line shows how many of the new millionaires emerging each period survived in later periods. Q: Who were the main drivers of Meiji industrialization? A: All types of entrepreneurs including Edo gosho, Yokohama merchants, Meiji zaibatsu, and company boom millionaires. ► Survival game was severe: many entries, many exits ► Japan’s industrial revolution: from 1880s to 1900s ► Japan-China War, Japan-Russia War also accelerated industrialization P.47
- 17. Constitution and Parliament PP.48-50,226 Western style legal system and functioning parliament were considered absolutely necessary to become a “first-class” nation Preferred model Desired speed Remark Government (Okubo, Ito, Iwakura, K. Inoue) German constitutional monarchy Gradualism (prepare during 1881-90) Cracked down on oppositions; H. Ito drafted constitution Freedom & People’s Rights Movement; Fukuzawa, Okuma British (two-party) parliamentary system As soon as possible Tosa samurai, rich farmers; turned violent sometimes <First parliamentary debate, 1890> --Oppositions demand “Budget Cuts, Reduce People’s Burden” (tax cuts) --Gov’t wants aggressive spending; policy independence from party politics Emperor promulgates Constitution, 1889.
- 18. Foreign policy and military modernization (1) Revision of unequal treaties with West --Considered impossible until Japan became Western style nation --Legal preparation (constitution & parliament) --Superficial imitation (eg. Rokumeikan) and too much concession to West were severely criticized by press and oppositions --Regaining customs rights 1899-1911, court rights 1894-99 (2) Military modernization and expansionism --Introduction of Western military technology and systems --Military budget (esp. battleships) was main cause of deficit --Invading Korea: provocation, victory over China’s Qing Dynasty (1894-95), fighting with Russia (1904-05), annexation (1910) --Taiwan colonized after Japan-China war, 1895
- 19. Cloud above the Slope (坂の上の雲) • Historical novel by Ryotaro Shiba, 8 vols. published 1968-72 • Lives of 3 people from Matsuyama, who shaped Meiji Japan • Motif--dynamism of young nation; identification of one’s life with nation’s fate • Controversy--Japan-Russia War: Japan’s self-defense against Russian aggression? • NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.) dramatized and broadcasted this novel in 2009-11 Yoshifuru Akiyama (1859-1930) Japanese Army, leader of cavalry Saneyuki Akiyama (1868-1918) Japanese Navy, defeating Russia’s Baltic Fleet Shiki Masaoka (1867-1902) Literature, haiku innovator