Reinvention In Japan Research Paper

Reinvention means to change in order to achieve positive outcomes. Japan has reinvented itself many times in its past history. Before 1868 Japan was isolated by the strict policy of the Tokugawa shogunate. Cut off from the advances of the industrialization Japan fell behind European countries. However a newly formed treaties with United States and other Western countries led to opening of the country and modernization. Some Japanese felt shogun is weak and they need to modernize in order to match the threat of foreigners. In 1867, daimyo rebel, overthrow the shogun, restored the emperor to power in 1868. The period from 1868 to 1912 became known as Meiji Restoration - "Meiji" means enlightened rule. Japanese leaders launched campaigns to modernize and industrialize the nation. Abolishment of the

Factories and railroads were constructed. A national army was created to replace clan-based units. Japan took the best ideas of the West and incorporated them into their reforms. Japan's economy continued to thrive until the impact of WWII left the country in shambles. After the second bomb dropped over Nagasaki, Japan unconditionally surrendered to the U.S and its allies officially ending World War II which is know as V-day. According to the Japan Packet “Nearly 3 million dead and 9 million homeless.” Although enemies with the United States during the war they received a lot of aid during the recovering process. Under the appointed leadership of MacArthur, Japan became the world's second largest economy. A new constitution to help rebuild Japan outlawed war, abolished the secret police, liberalized education and gave women a right to vote. Furthermore, Korean war helped improve the Japanese economy. The Japanese government identified industries that could be developed domestically and invested heavily in them. Japan is a worldwide manufacturer of automobiles and