This comprehensive handbook by Ernest W. Clement presents an in-depth examination of Japan's geography, society, and rapid modernization following the Meiji Restoration. The author details the nation's volcanic topography, sparse arable land, and dense population, highlighting how natural constraints shaped Japanese agriculture, particularly the intensive cultivation of rice and tea. He then shifts to industrial development, covering the rise of silk production, cotton-spinning mills, coal mining, and the integration of Western infrastructure such as railways and the postal system.
The volume meticulously outlines the political evolution from Tokugawa feudalism to constitutional imperialism. Clement explains the structure of the imperial government, the bicameral legislature, and the implementation of local self-government across prefectures, cities, and towns. Special attention is given to the reception of the civil and criminal codes, which replaced traditional arbitrary justice with European-inspired jurisprudence and paved the way for the abolition of extraterritoriality.
Cultural analysis occupies a central place, contrasting the refined aesthetics of traditional Japanese life with the growing wave of Westernization. The author examines family structures, the legal status of women under the new civil code, education systems ranging from kindergartens to imperial universities, and the prevalence of ancient folk-lore alongside modern newspapers and literature.
Finally, the text elevates Japan to the status of a major global actor through its military and naval successes in the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars. Clement evaluates the conscription system, the formidable navy modeled after British standards, and the geopolitical implications of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. The work concludes by assessing the challenges of modern industrialization, political factionalism, and the enduring influence of traditional cultural traits in shaping twentieth-century Japan.
