What Everybody Ought To Know...
About Japanese Culture And History

Did you know that the Japanese warriors were the only ones who could carry Japanese Samurai swords?

During the feudal time in the History of Japan, the Kamakura Shoguns ruled. The Samurai class dominated Japanese Culture And History for 700 years.

Being a Japanese warrior meant that you lived by the Kamakura Shoguns ruled. The Samurai class dominated Japanese Culture And History for 700 years.

Being a Japanese warrior meant that you lived by Bushido code of the Samurai. It was the Samurai lifestyle.

When you think of the History of the Samurai what normally comes to mind is a symbol of honor, loyalty and devotion.

The Samurai Bushido code was extreme. The Japanese warriors swore loyalty to their lord in a very dramatic ceremony.

The 'contract' was signed with the warrior's blood and the document was burned, then the ashes were mixed into water and drank.

The devotion between Japanese warriors and daimyo was so great that Ancient Samurai warriors committed suicide when their daimyo were killed.

The most famous of the Rituals in Japanese Culture And History - Samurai ritualistic suicide, Seppuku, was done in a situation of losing the battle.

The Japanese warrior would stick his antique Samurai sword in his stomach.

For the Japanese Samurai warrior Surrender was not an option. Fighting to death or suicide were the only options. Suicide was considered honorable.

Ancient Japanese Culture Comes To Life!

They banned all international trade and the Christian missionaries were thrown out too.

The reason?

They felt threatened by the influence of the western world. They had an idea that they could cut off the country from the outer world and in that way keep their power.

This great idea didn't last long of course, and by 1853, Commodore Perry of the U.S. Navy sailed his fleet into a port near Tokyo and forced the shogun to cancel the period of isolation in the history of Japan.

It's hard to imagine, but all the progress made by the western world between 17th and 19th century was unknown in Japan. The Ancient Japanese Culture continued with the feudal system.

Non of the industrialization of the west was familiar to them.Of course the Tokugawa shoguns were replaced quickly, and Japan had to catch up with the rest of the world.

Want To Know What Happened Next In Japanese History?

It turned out he was the right person at the right time.

He created a huge industrial and military progress in less than 10 years.

He practically transformed the Ancient Japanese Culture from a feudal society to an industrialized country.

By initiating a compulsory military service the Samurai were left without a position for the first time in the History of the Samurai.

The progress was so fast and so extreme that Japan became a leading military force in her area.

Japan started conquering territories in the countries next to her – Russia, Korea and China.

The Americans and the British started to feel a bit uneasy about Japan's growing power.

Around that interesting time in Japan history emperor Meiji died.
His son and grandson followed his line of extreme nationalism.

The climax was the attack on the US naval base in Pearl Harbor Hawaii (1941) that brought the United States to declare world war 2. Japanese history was at a turning point.

After a long fight the United States wiped out Hiroshima and Nagasaki with two atomic bombs.
The bombs killed approximately 130,000 people instantly in Japan.

The defeat forced Emperor Hirohito to surrender to the United States.
The Americans allowed the emperor to remain in his position, because they were concerned of panic between the Japanese people.
One of most interesting Facts About Japan is that Japanese people considered the emperor a god.

After World War 2 Japanese cities were in ruins. Japan lost 2 million people during World War 2.

According to the American demands after World War 2, Japanese army was dismantled. The emperors' role was declared symbolic and Japan adopted a democratic constitution for the first time in Japan history.

The feudal system was eliminated and by starting a compulsory military service the Japanese warriors were left without a position.
Carrying authentic Japanese Samurai swords in the streets was forbidden.

Continue Reading:

History of the Samurai

Tokyo History

Brief History Of Japan

Return from Japanese Culture And History to Tokyo Attractions

Return from Japanese Culture And History to Culture of Japan