Mal-position And Reconstruction: On The Transformation Of Japan's Status After Meiji Reform

Japan experienced a process of self-positioning and reconstruction after Meiji Reform, during which process the original backward oppressed status of Japan was broken and a new imperialism status was built. Meanwhile, Japan's national interests were reengineered. However, Japan's position was blind and wrong. This led Japan directly into the abyss of war and the inextricable dilemma. In the past over half-century after World War II, instead of seriously reflecting on themselves. Japan had done everything possible to whitewash the history of aggression and, maliciously tampered with its history textbooks. Especially at the beginning of the 21st century, Japan not only deny war crimes by every means, but also paid homage to war criminals enshrined in the "Yasukuni Shrine despite the strong oppositions of other Asian countries, which greatly hurt the feelings of Asian people.Lessons have been learned from the history that the country that does not have the courage to face up to its own war crimes, is an abnormal country with psychological vulnerability; a nation unwilling to admit its crimes and not stopping hurting the feelings of people in other countries shall never be able to be really strong. Currently, standing once again at the juncture of making options Japan will inevitably commit the same mistakes if it insists on blindly self-positioning and wrongly building its status.This paper is divided into four partsIn the first part, the paper gives a brief introduction to the composition of Japan's national status in Shogun ate period, emphasizing the unique geographical environment and the culture of Japan serving as the basis of the composition of national status. Based on the introduction, the paper specifies the internal and external features demonstrated by the composition of Japan's national status in Shogun ate period, the last stage of the Japanese feudal era. It is the Meiji Reform that transformed Japan from a feudal society into an industrial society, in which Japan's political system, the social structure and culture and the way of life had undergone great changes. However, Japanese Bushido was succeed and swelling rapidly along with the development of industrial civilizationThe second part focuses on the transformation process of Japan's national status after Meiji Reform . Japanese imperialism status was abstained not only by the unilateral efforts made by Japan but also by interactive relation structure between Japan and European powers. The structure helped to build Japan's national interests, that is, expanding by nature and invading for interests. Thereby, Japan converted from an invaded country into an invader while its national interest changed from the protection of its political economical rights into invasion in others. In this case, Japan embarked on the path of aggressive expansion and war, sucking itself deeper and deeper into the abyss and ultimately to a complete self-destruction.The third part mainly explores the reconstruction process of Japan's national status during and after cold war. After World War II Japan underwent a democratic reform conducted by US aiming at avoiding its re-arming. Yet Japan's post-war transformation is not complete for various reasons after the outbreak of Cold, leaving the emperor preserved and many war criminals uncharged. This provided favorable conditions for the rise of Japans Right Wing. Japan rebuild its status through two main channels, namely, while emphasizing having more independent political voice for becoming a permanent member of the United Nations it continued to strengthen military and security cooperation with the USA in order to reinforce its military might.The fourth part is a summary of the paper, and also the most valuable part of the paper, providing reflection and thinking on the transformation of Japan's national status in the following aspects:First, self-positioning should not be bind and lacking of intellect. Meiji Reform enabled Japan to become strong but its aim of "enrich the country" was set out of invasion. Lead by such aim, Japan was heading for war. Second, the materialism logic in status composition stresses adaptability rather than blind imitation. Third, a country should bases its attitudes and behavior towards international community on its national status; different countries with different statuses shall have different concepts and policies. Post- Cold War time has witnessed dramatic changes in international situation, in which, Japan has had its status changed with the development of the economy and has its national interests rebuilt. What accompanies the economic development is Japan's wild political ambition .It remains to be seen where is Japan, a nation with more political power heading for in the future.