Young People’s Revolution Led to the Modernization of Japan

Behind the Scenes | 日本を近代化へ導いた若者たちの革命

Young People’s Revolution Led to the Modernization of Japan

Foreign student (hereinafter FS): Japan’s revolution, the “Meiji Restoration” is often cited as a model for developing countries, could you please explain this to me? Teacher (hereinafter T): It began in 1853 when the so called “black ships” of the American fleet led by Commodore Perry appeared on Japan’s coast. So as not to fall under the influence of foreign religions, with only a few exceptions, Japan had closed its doors to foreign countries for over 200 years. Therefore when Perry demanded the ports be opened, Japan fell into turmoil. FS: During this era, it was not the Emperor’s court, but the Shogun’s shoganate that was actually in power, correct? T: Yes, that’s right. The shogunate decided to open some ports without permission from the Emperor, Japan’s legitimate ruler. Anticipating aggression from foreign countries, the imperial court was enraged by this decision. During this period Asian countries had been colonized by powerful western nations. China was also invaded after being defeated in the Opium War, so there was a high risk of Japan being invaded. As a result, a pro-imperial movement which advocated ousting foreign forces and overthrowing the shogunate rose to prominence. FS: The Satsuma domain, present day Kagoshima Prefecture and the Choshu domain, present day Yamaguchi Prefecture had a big part to play in overthrowing the shogunate. Am I correct? T: You’re very well informed. In the beginning the Satsuma domain supported the shogunate and fought against the Choshu domain. It was SAKAMOTO Ryoma, who brought together the two domains. FS: What made it possible? T: The Choshu domain fought against the foreign forces, but was completely overpowered and suffered a crushing defeat. On the other hand, people like ITO Hirobumi, who later became Japan’s first prime minister, studied in Britain and were astonished by Western civilization. Rather than throwing out foreigners, they prioritized overthrowing the shogunate which was clinging to an old fashioned system of government. FS: Ryoma is said to be one of the most popular historical figures in Japan. What were his other achievements? T: He suggested the shogunate return sovereignty to the imperial court without a struggle. TOKUGAWA Yoshinobu, who became the last shogun, voluntarily restored political power to the court. But, anti-shogunate forces who wanted to remove the influence of the shogunate by destroying the Tokugawa clan became more powerful. KATSU Kaishu, an influential advisor to the shogunate negotiated with SAIGO Takamori, the leader of the anti-shogunate forces, which had drawn near Edo castle. Then, persuaded to stop the senseless killing; Saigo agreed to the cease-fire. FS: It’s incredible that the regime change was carried out without bloodshed, with Yoshinobu voluntarily leaving Edo castle. T: What impresses me most is that those heroes of the Meiji Restoration were all young men in their 20s and early 30s. They were motivated not by ambition, but by a selfless desire to protect their country from foreign powers.

留学生りゅうがくせい
ryuugakusei
foreign student
以下いかりゅう):
ika, ryuu
hereinafter FS
日本にほん革命かくめい
nihonn no kakumei
Japan’s revolution
明治めいじ維新いしん」は、
meiji ishinn ha,
(the) Meiji Restoration
開発かいはつ途上国とじょうこく
kaihatsu tojyoukoku
developing countries
no
for
モデルもでる
moderu
(a) model
にも
nimo
as
されています。
sarete imasu.
is (often) cited
説明せつめいして
setsumei shite
explain (this to me)
いただけませんか。
itadake masenn ka.
could (you) please
先生せんせい
sennsei
teacher
以下いかせん):
ika, senn
hereinafter T
ペリーぺりー提督ていとく
peri- teitoku
Perry Commodore
ひきいる、
hikiiru,
led by
いわゆる
iwayuru
so called
黒船くろふね
kurofune to
(the) black ship
ばれる
yobareru
of < called>
アメリカあめりか
amerika no
American
艦隊かんたい
kanntai ga
(the) fleet
日本にほん海岸かいがん
nihonn no kaigann
Japan’s coast
ni
on
あらわれた
arawareta
(when) appeared
1853せんはっぴゃくごじゅうさんねん
sennhappyaku gojyuusannnenn
eighteen fifty-three [year]
ni
in
はじまります。
hajimarimasu.
(it) began
日本にほん
nihonn ha
Japan
外国がいこく宗教しゅうきょう
gaikoku no shuukyou
foreign religions
から
kara
of
影響えいきょう
eikyou wo
(the) influence
けない
ukenai
not to fall under
ように、
youni,
so as
一部いちぶくにのぞ
ichibu no kuni wo nozoki
with only a few exceptions <nations>
200にひゃくねん
nihyaku nenn
two hundred years
以上いじょう
ijyou
over
mo
for
外国がいこく
gaikoku
foreign countries
への
heno
to
とびら
tobira wo
(its) doors
ざしていました。
tozashite imashita
had closed
そのため、
sonotame,
therefore
ペリーぺりー
peri- ga
Perry
開港かいこう
kaikou wo
(the) ports be opened
要求ようきゅうする
youkyuu suru
demanded
to
when
日本にほん
nihonn ha
Japan
大混乱だいこんらん
daikonnrann
turmoil
ni
into
おちいったのです。
ochiitta no desu.
fell
りゅう
ryuu
FS
この時代じだい
kono jidai,
(during) this era
実権じっけんにぎっていた
jikkenn wo nigitte ita
was actually in power
のは
no ha
that
天皇てんのう朝廷ちょうてい
tennnou choutei
(the) Emperor’s court
ではなく
deha naku
not but
将軍しょうぐん
shougunn no
(the) Shogun’s
幕府ばくふ
bakufu
shoganate
でした
deshita
(it) was
よね。
yone.
correct?
せん
senn
T
ええ、
ee,
yes
そのとおり。
sono toori.
that’s right
幕府ばくふ
bakufu ha
(the) shogunate
日本にほん
nihonn no
Japan’s
正当せいとう
seitou na
legitimate
統治者とうちしゃ
touchisha,
ruler
天皇てんのう
tennnou
(the) Emperor
からの
kara no
from
承諾しょうだく
shoudaku
permission
なしに
nashi ni
without
開港かいこう
kaikou wo
to open (some) ports
決定けっていしてしまいました。
kettei shite shimai mashita.
decided
外国がいこく
gaikoku
foreign countries
からの
kara no
from
侵略しんりゃく
shinnryaku wo
aggression
心配しんぱいしていた
shinnpai shite ita
anticipating
朝廷ちょうていは、
choutei ha,
(the) imperial court
その決定けってい
sono kettei
this decision
ni
by
激怒げきどしたのです。
gekido shita no desu.
was enraged
そのころ
sonokoro
(during) this period
アジアあじあ諸国しょこくは、
ajia shokoku ha,
Asian countries
欧米おうべい
oubei no
western
強国きょうこく
kyoukoku
powerful nations
ni
by
植民地化しょくみんちかされていました。
shokuminnchika sarete imashita.
had been colonized
中国ちゅうごく
chuugoku
China
mo
also
アヘンあへん戦争せんそう
ahenn sennsou
(the) Opium War
ni
in
やぶれて
yaburete
after being defeated
侵略しんりゃくされていた
shinnryaku sarete ita
was invaded
ので、
node,
so
日本にほん
nihonn ga
Japan
侵略しんりゃくされる
shinnryaku sareru
being invaded
危険きけん
kikenn ga
(a) risk (of)
たかかったのです。
takakatta no desu.
there was high
その結果けっか
sono kekka,
as a result
外国勢がいこくぜい
gaikoku zei no
foreign forces
排除はいじょ
haijyo wo
ousting
かか
kakage
(which) advocated and
幕府ばくふ
bakufu wo
(the) shogunate
たおそうとする
taosou to suru
overthrowing
親朝廷しんちょうてい
shinn choutei ha
(a) pro-imperial movement <facts>
台頭たいとうしてきました。
taitou shite kimashita.
rose to prominence
りゅう
ryuu
FS
薩摩さつまはん
satsuma hann,
(the) Satsuma domain
現在げんざい
gennzai no
present day
鹿児島県かごしまけん
kagoshima kenn
Kagoshima Prefecture
to
and
長州ちょうしゅうはん
choushuu hann,
(the) Choshu domain
現在げんざい
gennzai no
present day
山口県やまぐちけん
yamaguchi kenn ha
Yamaguchi Prefecture
幕府ばくふ
bakufu wo
(the) shogunate
たお
taosu
overthrowing
おおきな役割やくわり
ookina yakuwari wo
big (a) part
たした
hatashita
had - to play in
のではないですか。
no deha nai desuka.
am (I) correct
せん
senn
T
よく
yoku
very well
っていますね。
shitte imasu ne.
(you)’re informed
薩摩さつまはん
satsuma hann ha
(the) Satsuma domain
当初とうしょ
tousho,
in the beginning
幕府ばくふ
bakufu wo
(the) shogunate
支持しじ
shiji shi
supported and
長州ちょうしゅうはん
choushuu hann
(the) Choshu domain
to
against
たたかいました。
tatakai mashita.
fought
そのふたつのはん
sono futatsu no hann wo
the two domains
同盟どうめいさせたのが、
doumei saseta no ga,
(who) brought together <allied>
坂本さかもと龍馬りょうま
sakamoto ryouma
Sakamoto Ryoma
です。
desu.
(it) was
りゅう
ryuu
FS
なぜ
naze
what <why>
それが
sorega
it
実現じつげんしたのですか。
jitsugenn shita no desuka.
made possible
せん
senn
T
長州ちょうしゅうはん
choushuu hann ha
(the) Choshu domain
外国勢がいこくぜい
gaikokuzei
(the) foreign forces
to
against
たたかいます
tatakai masu
fought
が、
ga,
but
圧倒的あっとうてき
attouteki na
completely <overwhelming>
ちから
chikara no sa de
was overpowered and
大敗たいはいします。
taihai shimasu.
suffered (a) crushing defeat
一方いっぽうでは、
ippou deha,
on the other hand
のち
nochi ni
later
日本にほん
nihonn no
Japan’s
初代しょだい
shodai
first
総理そうり大臣だいじん
souri daijinn to
prime minister
なる
naru
(who) became
伊藤いとう博文ひろぶみ
itou hirobumi
Ito Hirobumi
らが
raga
people like
イギリスいぎりす
igirisu
Britain
ni
in
留学りゅうがくし、
ryuugaku shi,
studied and
西洋せいよう文明ぶんめい
seiyou no bunnmei
Western civilization
ni
by
おどろきます。
odoroki masu.
were astonished
かれらは
karera ha
they
外国人がいこくじん
gaikokujinn no
foreigners
排除はいじょ
haijyo
throwing out
よりも
yori mo
rather than
ふる
furui
old fashioned
政治せいじ体制たいせい
seijitaisei
a(n) system of government
ni
to
しがみつく
shigamitsuku
(which) was clinging
幕府ばくふ
bakufu wo
(the) shogunate
たおすことを
taosu koto wo
overthrowing
優先ゆうせんさせたのです。
yuusenn saseta no desu.
prioritized
りゅう
ryuu
FS
龍馬りょうま
ryouma ha
Ryoma
日本にほん
nihonn
Japan
de
in
もっと
motto mo
the most
人気にんきのある
ninnki no aru
popular
歴史れきしじょう
rekishi jyou no
historical
人物じんぶつ
jinnbutsu
figures
no
of
一人ひとり
hitori to
(to be) one
いわれます。
iware masu.
is said
ほかにも
hokanimo
other
功績こうせき
kouseki ga
(his) achievements
あるのですか。
aru no desu ka.
what were ?
せん
senn
T
かれは、
kareha,
he
たたかわず
tatakawazu
without (a) struggle
政権せいけん
seikenn wo
sovereignty
朝廷ちょうてい
choutei
(the) imperial court
ni
to
かえすよう
kaesu you
return
幕府ばくふ
bakufu ni
(the) shogunate
はたらきかけました。
hataraki kake mashita.
suggested
最後さいご
saigo no
the last
将軍しょうぐん
shougunn
shogun
となる
to naru
(who) became
徳川とくがわ慶喜よしのぶは、
tokugawa yoshinobu ha,
Tokugawa Yoshinobu
みずか
mizukara
voluntarily
政権せいけん
seikenn wo
political power
朝廷ちょうてい
choutei
(the) [imperial] court
ni
to
返還へんかんしたのです。
hennkann shita no desu.
restored
しかし、
shikashi,
but
徳川とくがわ
tokugawa ke wo
(the) Tokugawa clan
たお
taoshi
by destroying
幕府ばくふ
bakufu
(the) shogunate
no
of
影響力えいきょうりょく
eikyouryoku wo
(the) influence
のぞこうとする
torinozokou to suru
(who) wanted to remove
反幕府はんばくふぐんは、
hannbakufu gunn ha,
anti -shogunte forces
いきおいをしてしまいました。
ikioi wo mashite shimai mashita.
became more powerful
幕府ばくふ
bakufu
(the) shogunate
no
to
実力者じつりょくしゃ
jitsuryokusha,
(an) influential advisor
勝海舟かつかいしゅうは、
katsukaishuu ha,
Katsu Kaishu
江戸城えどじょう
edojyou
Edo castle
ちかくに
chikaku ni
near
ちかづいていた
chikaduite ita
(which) had drawn
反幕府はんばくふぐん
hannbakufu gunn
(the) anti-shogunate forces
no
of
司令官しれいかん
shireikann,
(the) leader
西郷さいごう隆盛たかもり
saigou takamori
Saigo Takamori
to
with
交渉こうしょうしました。
koushou shimashita.
negotiated
そして
soshite
then
ころ
koroshiau
killing
無意味むいみさを
muimisa wo
(to stop the) senseless
き、
toki,
persuaded
西郷さいごう
saigou ha
Saigo
攻撃こうげき停止ていし
kougekiteishi
(the) cease-fire
ni
to
同意どういしたのです。
doui shita no desu.
agreed
りゅう
ryuu
FS
慶喜よしのぶ
yoshinobu ha
(with) Yoshinobu
江戸城えどじょう
edojyou wo
Edo castle
自主的じしゅてき
jishuteki ni
voluntarily
り、
sari,
leaving
ながさずに
chi wo nagasazu ni
without bloodshed
政権せいけん交代こうたい
seikenn koutai ga
(the) regime change
おこなわれた
okonawareta
was carried out
とは
toha
that
しんじがたいですね。
shinnjigatai desu ne.
(it)’s incredible
せん
senn
T
本当ほんとうにすごいのは、
honntou ni sugoi noha,
what impresses (me) most
明治めいじ維新いしん
meiji ishinn
(the) Meiji Restoration
no
of
立役者たてやくしゃ
tateyakusha ga
(those) heroes
みな
mina
all
20にじゅうだい
nijuudai,
(in their) twenties
30さんじゅうだい
sannjuudai
(and) thirties
前半ぜんはん
zennhann no
early
若者わかもの
wakamono
young men
だった
datta
were
こと
koto
that
です。
desu.
is
出世しゅっせ
shusse
ambition
のためでなく、
no tame de naku,
not by but
純粋じゅんすい
jyunnsui ni
(by a) selfless desire
外国がいこく勢力せいりょく
gaikokuno seiryoku
foreign powers
から
kara
from
くに
kuni wo
(their) country
まもりたいという
mamoritai to iu
to protect
おもいからでした。
omoikara deshita.
(they) were motivated

More from Hiragana Times

Learn anytime, anywhere and experience more on app

Explore Japanese culture with Hiragana Times

Subscribe
00:00 / 00:00