Our nation is on the rise from an unknown land to becoming one of the great: one of the Western leading powers. These last few years and the years to come mark a change in history, as we are finally being recognized for our greatness and moving ahead with the times. Technology will bring us to great places, and we are using technology. Western ideas will transform us into a qualified world leader, and we are using Western ideas. Weapons and military advances will enable us to compete against other countries fairly, and we are adapting weapons and military advancements. These last few years have been a time of change for Japan, and if we are lucky, years to come will mark more significant advancements.

Five years ago the Emperor Meiji regained control of the country, as realizations of what happened to China forced the decision that isolation must come to an end. The rest of the world had moved ahead in the times, and would continue moving through the end of our territorial control and country as we knew it if we failed to act. Danshaku Kato Hiroyuki, one of many major players and influences involved, has played a major role in the progression of the Japanese government to adapt Western ideas to these fields. An advisor to the Emperor Meiji, he has researched and informed the leaders of the government about what needed to be done, and changes that were and are necessary. His help with the constantly changing and existing problems with topics concerning human rights have changed the way Japan has functions forever(1). Democratic ideas are brand new and revolutionary, brilliant perhaps. Everybody in the country now will have say in governmental ideas, and in major decisions regarding the well being of our country. With these ideas as a beginning, our country is, in theory, becoming a European country. It is in our highest hopes that this will set us forward ahead of other countries still lost and isolated as we once were. China was destroyed through the imperialism of Europe, and soon we will have the possibilities and strength to be one of the imperialist countries. We have taken a leap forward ahead of China, as they used to be far more militarily, economically, politically, and socially advanced than we. Soon, however, if given the chance to prove ourselves, we will show the rest of the world that we are now the most powerful non-European country, as we are now Western in our ideas. The Restoration of our country is a great one and for the better of the people and of the nation, as we are not lost and alone any longer, we are among the advanced nations.

Towards the beginning of the Meiji Period, in April of 1868, the Charter Oath was written: a list of necessary changes in order to better the country. "Deliberate assemblies shall be widely established and all matters decided by public discussion."(2). The first principle to the commanding oath of the restoration, this was designated to inspire democratic ideas into the minds of the people. The idea of the public being involved in government and political ideas is highly western and European, as Japan previous to the start of the Meiji period was highly feudal. The samurai had the ultimate control among the people, as equality was still a foreign idea. People born into lower classes had no say and were stuck in their demeaning positions. The second decree, "All classes, high and low, shall unite in vigorously carrying out the administration of the affairs of state," supports the newly found ideas of equality(3). Even more important, it supports democratic ideas to the extreme, as it states that every citizen of Japan shall take a role and a stand as a part of the government. To further stray away from feudal ideas and systems, "The common people, no less than the civil and military officials, shall each be allowed to pursue his own calling so that there may be no discontent(4)." These first three articles of the Charter Oath center around equality and democratic ideas, and have the goal of demolishing past feudal, ideas.

The last two ideas of the Oath the Meiji Restoration is centered around focus on how Japan shall change, and the methods in which change is centered around. "Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based upon the just laws of Nature(5)." This fourth article is an example of how the country has realized the necessities in transforming to Western Ideas, and simply displays recent ideas. The most important article is the fifth, as it centralizes the focus of the Meiji period so far. "Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundation of Imperial Rule(6)." The significance of this statement is clearly apparent, as it states it very clearly. Simply it is that our country must branch out to the ideas of the West, and modify past traditions. It is a call for a new age in Japanese ways, something that has started and is well on its way today. We are close to becoming a world competitor, and this is highly due to the Charter Oath and contributors like Kato Hiroyuki.
*quote created by the author*

Sources:

1. "Meiji Restoration" Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.eb.com:180/bol/topic?eu=53113&sctn=1>

2. "Japan/Meiji" Wikipedia Encyclopedia. http://www.wikipedia.com/wiki/Japan/Meiji

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Schirokauer, Conrad. A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations. (US, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers, 1989), 422-429.

Images:

1. Mieji Emperor. http://www.ox.compsoc.net/~gemini/simons/historyweb/meiji-emperor.html

2. Picture of the Mieji Shrine. http://www.infojapan.de/reise/stemp.htm

Background found at: "Backgroudns Etc." http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/4821/index.html

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