Japan's two-century transformation

Author: Zhang Jian, Wang Jinlin, Editors
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-07-01
Features: This book adopts a combined framework of introduction and specific discussions to comprehensively explore reforms in Japan since the Meiji Restoration in various aspects such as politics, economy, society, diplomacy, and education, ultimately focusing on the role of these reforms in promoting and hindering economic development. The introduction attempts to grasp the role of reforms in Japanese history from both theoretical and objective perspectives, arguing that reforms are the driving force behind Japan's economic growth. The specific discussions examine reforms since the Meiji Restoration from political, economic, diplomatic, educational, and social perspectives, striving for thoroughness and specificity, with a primary focus on elaborating on concrete reform measures. Each discussion generally emphasizes the Meiji Restoration period, the post-war reform era, and the current reforms Japan is undertaking in preparation for the new century, thereby highlighting the characteristics of reforms during the two cross-century periods and the leapfrogging development in Japanese history. This book positions reform as its starting point, such as the reform and development of bureaucracy and administration, the establishment and evolution of local self-governance systems, the establishment and reform of modern educational systems, and the reform and evolution of family systems. The narrative focuses less on objective reform policies and more on specific reform measures that are often overlooked.