6 December, 1889
The Upside of the Restoration
Even as I write Japan as we know it is being changed for the better. Doubtless you already knew that earlier this year Emperor Meiji (pictured right) was presented with the draft of a new constitution that would, if ratified, completely topple the structure of feudal society by abolishing it altogether, as well as taking power formerly distributed among feudal lords and giving it back to the emperor(1). You probably already have formed an opinion regarding recent events. Unlike so many of my colleagues, many of them Shogunates themselves, I believe that the restoration is just what our country needs.
The problem with our old system is that with the ever-growing power of the Western world there was no way we could catch up. We were stuck in an obsolete system that, due to its rigidity, did not allow for a system that change as times demanded. If there was an attack, we would have no chance of fighting back since our military and technology are unchangeable with the feudal system. In the West, however, especially in North America, there are already more progressive governments in place. It seems to be working for them- their success is evident everywhere. Even Japanese citizens have begun acting and dressing in Western styles ever since Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s arrival on our shores.
Who could possibly protest a new government that not only keeps the people’s best interest in mind, but allows the people to have a say in political decisions? If we are stuck in our old ways, we are powerless- but if the country allows people to have a say in the government it is taking a step towards uniting the people. If a country is united it 
is able to move forward into a new era together. Our emperor has created new, better school and put a parliament in place(2). This means a more educated population for the future, more capable of making the types of decisions that a western government allows the people to make. Only good can come out of making these changes.
It is not those who want a reformation who are the ones in the wrong, but the ones who want to keep Japan a completely feudal system isolated from the rest of the world. We can find a balance, but to stay in the entirely antiquated ways of the now-disgraced samurai (pictured above left) is not the way to improve our country and to protect it from invading forces.
There is also a fear of losing national identity. This is actually already addressed by the goals of the reformation. The new constitution takes many steps towards a democratic society(3), which means that the government will make more decisions based off of the best interests of the citizens of Japan. This will promote nationalism and patriotism. The other argument is thast Westernization will lead to loss of cultural identity. Westernization may lead to Japan becoming more like a Western civilization, but our culture will not be completely changed. Loyalty to the emperor, Japanese work ethic, the value of a good education- the important aspects of what we value will remain unchanged.
With such improvements taking place for the good of the country, allowing a bit of Western society to become part of Japanese culture is a small price to pay. In return for abolishing a less effective system of government, we gain a postal system, a stronger military, beter technology, a place among the ever-improving Western world, and more opportunities for ordinary people (4). The world is changing- but it's definitely changing for the better.
Footnotes
1. " Meiji ." Britannica Student Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 2 Dec. 2005 <http://search.eb.com/ebi/article-9275770>. Menlo School Lib. <http://library.menloschool.org>
2. "Meiji Restoration." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 2 Dec. 2005 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9051827>. Menlo School Lib. <http://library.menloschool.org>
3."Meiji Japan in the Nineteenth Century, 1868-1919." DISCovering World History. Gale Research, 1997. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. 2 Dec. 2005 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HistRC/> Menlo School Lib. <http://library.menloschool.org>
4. Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Kodansha Ltd., ed.1, 1993) , s.v. "Meiji Restoration".
Images
1. Emperor Meiji, "Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture" http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ealac/dkc/calendar_2000_spring/
2. Samurai, "Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan--An informative look" http://www.grifworld.com/perryhome.html