Meiji (1868 - 1912): Japan Closes Divergence Gap

Question 1

How did imperialism affect Japan?

Answer 1

It created an international race for dominance which Japan and China joined in the years following the Opium War

Question 2

When did the Meiji Period take off?

Answer 2

1870

Question 3

World Systems: International Trade

Answer 3

Under the onslaught of foreign imports, Meiji Japan ran trade deficit ( more imports than exports )

Question 4

What was Japan’s response to this trade deficit?

Answer 4

Foreign borrowing, Export of gold, silk, tea

Eventual shifrt from import to domestic production

women are brought into the work force

Question 5

What did the decentralized system allow domains to do?

Answer 5

Introduce economic reforms earlier and faster. This allowed a faster overthrow of the Shogun

Question 6

Why was the samurai class still in charge even after the Meiji Restoration?

Answer 6

Educated

Still weatlhy

public perception still intact

Question 7

Business Institutions

Answer 7

Tri-part business forms

small to medium sized family owned businesses

medium to large joint stock corporations (e.g. cotton spinners)

Question 8

What percent of Japanese households are classified as businesses?

Answer 8

20%

Question 9

What is most important example of medium to large joint stock corporations?

Answer 9

cotton textile industry

Question 10

What are two exmaples of large business groups?(zaibatsu)

Answer 10

Mitsubishi

Mitsui

Question 11

Characteristics of Large Busienss Groups

Answer 11

Family ownership

Multiple Lines of Business

Often had close ties to government and benefited from government development projects ( e.g. given permission to mine)

Question 12

Examples of Major Zaibatsu with originas as state agents

Answer 12

Mitsui, yasuda, Okura, Fujita, Mitsubishi

Question 13

Major Zaibatsu with Origins in Mining

Answer 13

Sumitomo, Furukawa, Asano

Question 14

Major Lines of Business

Answer 14

Mining, Heavy Industry, Trade, Finance