study

• The motto of this movement was “Civilization and Enlightenment”. The Meiji government wanted to change the unequal treaties with the Western countries. They believed that being a westernized country would result in Japan being viewed as an equal, and the treaties would then be revised.
• Japanese Leaders decided that the pace of Westernization needed to be slowed down. It was time to Adapt Western ways with Japanese ways.

   “Civilization and Enlightenment” Was dropped for a new motto :“Western Science, Japanese Essence”
• In the new constitution the emperor’s powers were described as “sacred and inviolable,” that is, not to be challenged or dishonoured. Japanese citizens were granted freedom of speech and religion as well as rights to privacy, property, movement, and legal rights, among others. An Imperial Diet, or government, which consisted of a House of Peers (royalty or nobility
• As in the Edo period, the constitution supported a strong central government. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press lasted only a few years. Political parties were discouraged, in part, because having different political parties with different perspectives did not fit the Japanese worldview.
• Japanese wanted to design a constitution to reflect their distinct culture as well as incorporating the “best” elements of Western thinking about government. As a result, a constitutional study mission was sent abroad to do research. It decided that the Prussian constitutional model was the best.
• • Group responsibility and group shame (goningumi/filial piety) - society over self