Japan’s Struggle with the Past for the Future
A New World
A nation rich in history, Japan has found itself in a new world with news rules. The world has grown significantly smaller economically, politically, and technologically.
Since the West made its presence known in the East rapid changes have come upon the ancient land. With it has come the need to re-identify itself. This has come to mean for Japan a struggle in balancing nationalist pride and facing the mistakes of the past.
Beginning of an Identity Crisis
Beginning in the Tokugawa period that stretched from the 1600s into the late 1800s, the struggles of modern Japan found itself. In the later years of the period, warriors who had found their entire sense of self-worth in what they did “suffered a troubling identity crisis.”
The need for established tradition was fading fast. With the West coming into the picture, Japan was finding itself “inadequate to deal with new pressures at home and from outside.” Unrest and confusion faced the Japanese. This added to the decline of the Tokugawa power.
Western Influence
As the increase presence of Western merchants and politicians became evident, so did the realization that Japan’s world was about to change. With each new…
