To recognize the magnitude of Japan’s achievement in the next 50 years, we need to understand the

struggle science went through to cement its position in Europe.

Europe coming to terms with science was hardly fast. Any form of research in science was seen
as a crime against religion and culture (before renaissance). Great efforts were taken to curb this new
venture of science. Similarly, Industrial revolution did not precipitate into life. Europe resisted changes
and people who wanted to maintain their status-quo fought against change.

After the Shogunate, Japan entered the period of Meiji restoration or the period of enlightenment.
Defeat against US left her with embarrassment and anger. This defeat was a blessing in disguise as it
proved to be an inflection point in Japan’s story. The new emperor took the title of Meiji and promised
to usher in a new era of growth. Knowledge was made the prime priority and the big machines were
embraced. It is interesting to note that the Meiji era also rejuvenated age old Japanese cultures. Thus
the people did not let religious dogma come in the way of growth. This presents a stark contrast with
Europe which took ages to acclimatize to the scientific way. While the rest of Asia was blaming the fault
in its stars, Japan took the defeat to the chin and set out to beat the westerners in their own ways.

The Meiji Empire had a highly centralized bureaucratic structure. The top leaders of the empire studied
the civilizations of the west and adapted a constitutional monarchy. In 1889, Japan adopted the first
constitution of Asia. The constitution was a hybrid of concepts of several western powers. She took in
the methods of the west and conflated it with her own tradition of hard work and adaptability. Land
reforms were initiated and feudality diminished. The centralized government started building Industries
of all fields. Soon, the Industrialization of Japan had become rapid and tough to control for the state.
Hence private investments were sought and this gave rise to the control of Industrial power by a few
powerful families. These families were collectively known as the “Zaibatsu”. 1894 marked the reversal of
unfair trade treaties imposed on the erstwhile Shogunate.

Japan not only embraced the technology of the west but also imbibed the Imperialistic hunger. Her
rapidly expanding capitalistic industry needed resources and land. She turned her head to mainland
Asia. The wins against China and Russia established Japan’s regional power in the pacific and alarmed
the west. Rattled that a country of different race was beating it at its own game, the western powers
suddenly questioned the morality of Japan’s imperial conquests. This hypocrisy furthered Japan’s angst
and precipitated as the Attack on the Pearl Harbour in 1942.