Japanese Reinvention Essay

"The Land of the Rising Sun" or Japan has become one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world through the use of reinvention. Reinvention is when the country needs to change dramatically so they are not threatened by most countries militarily. It is also used when they are unable to compete with other countries of producing the best economy. Throughout Japan's records, Japan reinvented themselves twice during the Meiji Era and Post-WWII. During the Meiji Era, the "intention of ousting all foreigners and returning Japan to its former state of domestic tranquility," (Packet 10) was in the minds of Japanese leaders. To fulfill this task, western military strength and economy were sought for. This resulted in the Japanese to take in western economic reforms and upgrading their

As a result, Japan was no longer threatened by other western countries militarily and improved their economy to compete with other western nations. Just like the Meiji reinvention, a second reinvention took place in Japan because they were threatened by other countries militarily and the economy was in turmoil. So when the United States observed Japan’s deteriorating economy, MacArthur, the five-star general, was "given emperorlike powers to rebuild and reshape Japan's ancient civilization" (Packet 22). With the economic assistance of the U.S., Japan's economy improved. Also, although the Japanese military was reduced to a token military, Japan was no longer threatened by other countries militarily because of the U.S. troops assigned to protect Japan. With the help of the U.S., Japan has become "a strong democracy with the second largest economy in the world" (Packet 23) until the Chinese surpassed them. Overall, reinvention was only used when Japan was threatened militarily and when they couldn’t compete with other countries economically. Today, reinvention is not needed in