Annotated Bibliography

Primary Sources
Images
Brian Platt, Educational Reform in Japan (19th c.), in Children and Youth in History,
Item #125, http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/case-studies/125 (accessed October 24, 2016).
This source gave me images of school during the Meiji and the Terakoya periods. The
Meiji Restoration also lead to educational advancements and improvements in classrooms
because of access to advancements from the Western world and Japans new focus on
innovation so that they would have a stable economy and not fall behind the Western
world.
Books
Brunton, Richard H. Building Japan

1868-1876. Japan Library Limited, 1991.

This source was a book written by Richard Brunton, who lived in Japan from 1868 to
1876. This was originally written to teach them how to build lighthouses so foreign trade
ships would not crash, but ended up teaching them how to set up government and other
essential skills.
Fukuzawa, Yukichi, and Eiichi Kiyooka. The Autobiography of Yukichi Fukuzawa. New
York: Columbia UP, 2007. Print.
This source was an autobiography of Yukichi Fukuzawa who was a key figure in the
Cultural Revolution that Japan went through. He translated many western works to the
Japanese and wrote many books that were important for introducing the Japanese to
foreigners and this showed me how the Japanese viewed westerners as aliens.
Personal Accounts
Awaji-Kami, Muragaki. Diary of the First Japanese Embassy to the United States.
http://www.archive.org/stream/firstjapanese
This source was a dairy written by Muragaki Awaji-Kami, one of the first Japanese to
leave the country to look at the United States of America and the industrialized world.
This source helped me see how the Japanese viewed the United States and how they
reacted to this new technology America had and was prepared to trade with them .The
Japanese thought of the Westerners as outsiders and aliens and did not need their
resources or technology prior to the Meiji Restoration. After, they began trading with the
outside world again, which helped them become rapidly technologically advanced.
Hawks, Francis L., and Sidney Wallach. Narrative of the Expedition of an
American Squadron

to the China Seas and Japan. London: Macdonald, 1954.

This source was a description of the journals and notes of Commodore Perry and his
officers, which were taken at his request and under his direct supervision. This narrative
showed me the American perspective on the diplomacy of Perrys negotiations, which
helped me have more balanced research so I could show the different perspectives of the
Meiji Restoration and how it affected the Japanese and Westerners in different ways. The
exchanges helped to modernize Japan and improve the lifestyle and strengthen
government. Commodore Perry and the Americans also wanted benefits through trade,
and as Japan was behind the West due to its period of isolationism, the treaties created
were more beneficial to the West.
Whitney, Clara A., M. William Steele, and Tamiko Uchimata. Claras Diary: an American
Girl in Meiji Japan. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1979.
This book was about a 15 year old girl who arrived in Tokyo in 1875 and wrote a detailed
journal about Japanese life during the Meiji period and wrote about Meiji Era Japan from
a positive perspective. This helped me see what life was like at the time from a primary
source and how the Meiji Restoration affected the Japanese as individuals.
Government Documents
Ito, Hirobumi. The Constitution of the Empire of Japan (1889). Translated by Miyoji Ito,

edited by Jonathan Dresner. Hanover Historical Texts, History Department, 22 Mar.

2015, history.hanover.edu/texts/1889con.html. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016.

This source was a translated file of The Constitution of the Empire of Japan with analysis
in context of the time period with information about the government in the Meiji period.
This helped me to see the effects of overthrowing the shogunate of Japan and the policies
and rules that were changed.
Keene, Donald, et al. The Charter Oath (The Meiji Restoration), 1868. Edited by Asia
for Educators Contributors. Asia for Educators, Columbia UP, 1964,
afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/japan/charter_oath_1868. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016.
This source was a copy of the Meiji Restoration Charter Oath with analysis. This helped
me to see the changes in government at the time, the major alterations to the feudal
system and social structure, and the basis of policies that are part of Japanese government
today. By taking a stand, a new system of government inspired by Western principles
while maintaining Japanese ideals was created.
The Harris Treaty, 1858. Courses Pages. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.
<http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~jobrien/reference/ob58.html>.

This source was of The Harris Treaty which was an unequal treaty between the Japanese
and the United States and it pushed the Japanese over the limit in terms of debate by
forcing the Japanese to make tough decisions and it was a pivotal moment during the
Meiji Restoration. Because the Japanese were no longer more technologically advanced
than the west, they did not have the upper hand in negotiation and knew that they needed
to reconnect with the outside world to remain in power or they would be defenseless
without advanced technology and a strong government and army in times of attack.
Tiedemann, Arthur, and Ito Hirobumi. The Meiji Constitution of 1889. Translated by
Ito Myoji. Asia for Educators, Columbia UP, 1962,
afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/japan/meiji_constitution. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016.
This was the Meiji Constitution document with analysis based on the time period, so it
was easier to understand and put into context. This helped me learn more about the
government system during the Meiji period, how it derived its influences from Japanese
values while following a Western model in order to successfully emulate powerful
nations, and see the dramatic alterations to government and the feudal system after the
clans took a stance.
Miscellaneous
Meiji Reforms - Kishida Toshiko, (1863-1901) - Japan - Primary Source. Women In
World History Curriculum. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/WR-04.html>.
This source gave me quotes as well as primary information on the social changes that
occurred during the Meiji Restoration. This focused on Womens rights during the Meiji
era and described the Meiji Civil Code of 1898. This showed that during the time, not
everyone had many rights, such as women and the lower classes, giving me varied
perspective about how the Meiji Restoration benefited them by providing better
government, education, and protection.

Secondary Sources
Interviews
Inoue, Soichiro. Interview. 25 Nov. 2016.
I conducted this interview via a live Skype chat with Soichiro Inoue, curator of the
Museum Meiji-Mura located in Japan, which contains many important artifacts from the

time period. From this interview, I gained unique perspective on the time period,
education, and political, economic, and governmental reforms brought about through the
political coup. This helped me to better understand the differences between the rule
during the Meiji and Tokugawa period and the effect the Meiji Restoration had on the
social hierarchy, government, and place of samurai and daimyo and how taking a stance
caused dramatic changes.
Nimura, Janice P. Interview. 29 Nov. 2016.
I was able to reach out to Janice P. Nimura, award-winning author of Daughters of the
Samurai: A Journey from East to West, Yale graduate, and a M.D. in East Asian studies
at Columbia. This helped me to revise my thesis and find new sources to use, such as
Mses. Nimuras recommendation of MIT Visualizing Cultures, on which I found a great
overview of the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars. The interview also helped me
to clarify my misconceptions on the conflict between Choshu/Satsuma clans and the
Tokugawa followers and see that they reached an agreement, but fought over who would
lead. In addition, I was able to better relate it to the theme and see that Japan took a
stance to modernize itself while retaining Confucian values.
Toler, Pamela D. Interview. 30 Nov. 2016.
I interviewed historian and blogger for History in the Margins Pamela D. Toler, PhD in
history and writer for Mankind: The Story of All of Us for further analysis as I learned
more about the Meiji Restoration and the outcomes, support, and opposition of the
political coup. This interview helped me to see that the stance taken by the Tokugawa and
Satsuma clans was an important one, though modernization would eventually have
occurred, as it was necessary in order to not be colonized. Mses. Toler helped me to tie
my topic to the theme, Taking a Stand by highlighting how this event was the result of
a cataclysmic political coup and this was the only way such an event could be set in
motion as the Tokugawa shogunate was firm in its stance and isolationism.
Wert, Michael. Interview. 31 Nov. 2016.
I conducted this interview with Michael Wert, Ph.D., and author of Meiji Restoration
Losers: Memory and Tokugawa Supporters in Modern Japan. This elaborated
the outcomes and opposition of the political coup and I learned that even though the clans
were successful in their stance to modernize Japan, they were still not looked upon as
equals at the end of the Meiji Restoration and were unsuccessful in including a clause for
racial equality in the Versailles Peace treaty. When the Tokugawa shogunate disbanded,
some found places in the Meiji government, while others found their roles were no longer
applicable in modern Japan.
Books

Akamatsu, Paul. Meiji 1868: Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Japan. New York:
Harper & Row, 1972. Print.
This source was a novel about the revolution and counter-revolution that occurred in
Japan during the Meiji Restoration. The change of government in Japan in 1868 was one
of the most important revolutions worldwide. The Choshu and Satsuma clans and a more
modern ruling class that recognized how isolation was affecting Japan and overthrew the
shogun. This lead to the end of feudal society. Those who founded the new Meiji rule
though they could resist foreign pressure and Western influence, but once they saw how
it could benefit them in modernization, they developed a modern army, improved
infrastructure, strengthening the great empire. This book also provided a backdrop to the
restoration, which was propelled by the trade negotiations of Commodore Perry, who
breached the long withstood isolationism by making Japan realize that it was no longer in
their interest to remain independent from the Western world.
Avakian, Monique. The Meiji Restoration and the Rise of Modern Japan. Englewood Cliffs,
NJ: Silver Burdett, 1991. Print.
This book gave me a general synopsis on the pre-occurring and occurring events during
the Meiji Restoration. It also defined important positions during the Meiji Restoration
and was concise while providing me with the main points to include for my website
pages.
Barr, Pat. The Coming of the Barbarians. New York: Tuttle, 1972. Print.
The Coming of Barbarians gave me an important perspective of why Japan was afraid of
foreign influence, or xenophobic, during the Meiji Era, when Japan opened to the world.
This source helped me better my understanding of the debate that took place in Japan on
how to react to western encroachment because there were many against the new Western
ideas and customs that were brought by the foreigners.
Benfey, Christopher. The Great Wave: Gilded Age Misfits, Japanese Eccentrics, and the
Opening of Old Japan. New York: Random House, 2003. Print.
This source gave me the American perspectives on life during the gilded age in
America, and the Meiji era in Japan. The book told a story about a close group of 19th
century American travelers who dedicated their lives to exploring and preserving old
Japan.
Bix, Herbert P. Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan. New York, NY: Harper Collins
______Publishers, 2000. Print.
This source on Hirohito, the grandson of Emperor Meiji, was about the consequences
including the successes and failures of the Meiji Restoration. This source helped me learn
about major consequences of the Meiji Restoration, such as trying to expand rapidly, or
aggressive expansion.

Bouvier, Nicolas. The Japanese Chronicles. San Francisco: Mercury House, 1992. Print.
This source gave me a general view of the Japanese reaction to Perrys voyage and how
the Japanese reacted as a nation to the change that took place. It also helped me verify
what I had found out from other sources and cross-check my facts.
Busch, Noel Fairchild. The Horizon Concise History of Japan,. New York: American
Heritage Pub., 1972. Print.
This source gave a detailed description of Perrys negotiations with the Japanese and it
told me what reforms took place in the Meiji Restoration. This source also referenced
other useful primary sources, which helped me to branch out and gain new perspectives
from different sources.
Cunningham, Mark E., and Lawrence J. Zwier. The End of the Shoguns and the Birth of
Modern Japan. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century, 2009. Print.
This text offered me various quotes from the Meiji Era as well as analysis on the key
events during the Meiji Era. It describes many of the controversial moments and
important turning points in Japanese society including the Meiji Restoration and primary
quotes to support this from important figures at the time such as political leaders and
diplomats.
Dower, John W. Japan in War and Peace: Selected Essays. New York: New, 1993. Print.
This source was helpful because it showed different views on the Meiji Restoration from
a historians standpoint and gave me new facts on the Meiji Restoration. By showing
different sides, it also presented new arguments and showed me that the modernization
was not a unanimous choice and there was both strong support and opposition.
Articles
Dower, John W. Russo-Japanese War. MIT Visualizing Cultures, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, 2008,
ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/throwing_off_asia_03/toa_essay01.html. Accessed
15 Dec. 2016.
This source was an article about the Russo-Japanese War, one of the two international
wars during the Meiji period, the other being the Sino-Japanese war. These wars had
consequences but also huge advances in technology and were won by Japan. Despite their
victories, the treaty process during the Versailles Peace Conference with other delegates
was difficult and ultimately disappointing to Japan. They had caught up in terms of
military strength, but still had to contend with the racist attitudes of the Western treaty
powers, who couldnt bear to be beaten by a heathen nation. This source was useful to

me in showing the results of Japan taking a stance: modernization and not being in a
position of disadvantage in war time. However, there was still a long way to go for
equality, showing me the long term effects and how the Japanese were viewed as
outsiders by foreign countries.
Editors of Walk Japan, editor. Tokugawa Political System. Nakasendo Way, Walk Japan,
2016, www.nakasendoway.com/tokugawa-political-system/. Accessed 19 Sept. 2016.
This was an article about the Tokugawa political system that helped me see what life was
like before the Meiji restoration. The Japanese feudal system was a lot like Europes and
one of the most complicated systems developed. It consisted of the samurai, daimyo,
emperor, and shogun. There were two levels of independent government and the
shogunate had full power over foreign relations and trade. Because they were so
powerful, when the shogunate moved to cut off foreign relations in fear of outside
influence and because at the time they did not need anything from the other countries as
they were technologically advanced and powerful, Japan was forced to enter a period of
isolationism. This lead to lack of advances and developments, falling behind the Western
world, and political coups to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate.
---. Sino-Japanese War. MIT Visualizing Cultures, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
2008, ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/throwing_off_asia_02/toa_essay01.html.
Accessed 15 Dec. 2016.
This site was recommended to me by Janice P. Nimura, a historian and M.D. in East
Asian Studies from Colombia and author of Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from
East to West, whom I interviewed. I used it to find more about the Sino-Japanese War,
one of the two international wars in the Meiji period, the other being the Russo-Japanese
War. Due to Japans victory and low casualty rate, Japan gained recognition as a modern
power. This great demonstration of military power lead to the end of the unequal treaties
that the foreign powers had saddled Japan with ever since the 1850s. This source helped
me to see the effects of taking a stand and modernizing Japan and how it effectively
accomplished its goals.
Websites
A Brief Summary of the Perry Expedition to Japan, 1853 Naval History and Heritage
Command. 23 Mar. 2004. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/perry_exp.htm>.
This source from the US Navy Department Library gave me a summary on the debate
and it also provided details on the supplies carried by Commodore Perrys crew and the
exchange of gifts that the Japanese made with the United States.
Chung, TK. Meiji Restoration. TheCorner. Web. 14 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.thecorner.org/hist/japan/meiji1.htm>.

This source was helpful because it described what happened to the shoguns and samurai
class when the Meiji Restoration took place. The website also had analysis on why these
changes took place and what led up to these changes.
Columbia University. The Meiji Restoration and Modernization. Asia for Educators,
2009, afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1750_meiji.htm. Accessed 14 Nov. 2016.
This was an analysis of the struggles of the process of restoration Japan underwent. The
most important part of the Meiji period was Japans struggle for recognition of its
achievement and for equality from the Western nations. Japan was very successful in
organizing a capitalist state on Western models. But when Japan also began to apply
European imperialism, the West reacted negatively. Because Japan entered the
Western-dominated world order at a late stage, Colonialism and racism were too deeply a
part of Western countries to allow a new, non white nation to trade and compete with the
other countries as an equal. Many of the misunderstandings between the West and Japan
came from Japans alienation from the West. The Western nations treated European
countries differently than the new Asian power, Japan, so it was harder for Japan to
succeed and be part of fair trade and agreements.
Columbia University. Modern History: The Meiji Restoration and Modernization. Asia
for Educators | Columbia University. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.
<http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/japan/japanworkbook/modernhist/meiji.html>.
This website made by Columbia University explained the social, economic, and political
changes that took place during the Meiji Restoration, and the ideologies that were present
at the time. It also explained the rebellions by the conservative samurai class on how to
react to foreign invasion.
Editors of Meiji Jingu. The Charter Oath in Five Articles. Meiji Jingu, 2016,
www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/about/7.html. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016.
This source provided me context of the time when the Charter Oath was issued. As Japan
was under pressure from unprecedented political, social and cultural changes such as the
opening of the country after more than 200 years isolation policy. The Charter Oath
became the foundation of modern Japanese government. This helped me learn about the
effects on government today and greatly changed the system of government by giving the
people more power as opposed to a dictatorship.
History.com Staff. Tokugawa Period and Meiji Restoration. History.com, A+E Networks,
2009, www.history.com/topics/meiji-restoration. Accessed 19 Sept. 2016.
This site provided me with information on life in imperial Japan during the Tokugawa
shogunate, which was behind compared to the rest of the world and not technologically
advanced or protected. So in 1867, two clans against the Tokugawa shogunate, the

Choshu and Satsuma, took a stand and overthrew the shogunate, which was growing
increasingly weak. This lead to an imperial restoration, named after young emperor
Meiji. In the following years up until 1912, which marked the end of the Meiji
Restoration due to the emperors death, the feudal system was abolished and Japan
became technologically, agriculturally, politically, and economically advanced. This
enabled them to be able to trade with the West and become a prominent military power
and in a period of less than 45 years, Japan underwent a modernization and went from
samurai and daimyo to cities and automobiles. I was able to gain an overview on the
Meiji Restoration and the main components such as its advancements proceeding the end
of the Tokugawa shogunate.