We Are Tomodachi Spring 2018

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242018 is a significant year for Japan, as it marks the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration. The Meiji Restoration was a major revolution that brought an end to over 260 years of feudal government. In its place, a democratic social and political system was established based on constitutional law over the course of about 20 years, and it led to significant economic reforms and growth.“The driving force behind the Meiji Restoration was a strong desire for freedom,” says Shinichi Kitaoka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, who specializes in modern Japanese politics and diplomacy.Having begun with the rise of the feudal Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603, the Edo period saw Japan mature both economically and culturally. At the same time, however, the Edo period was bound by a strict class structure, which even placed restrictions on access to education, meaning that Japanese society was far from free. It was the Meiji Restoration that finally abolished the strict class system and created a more free and In 1872, with the support of the United Kingdom, a railway was officially opened for service in Japan between Shimbashi Station and Yokohama Station, a distance of about 29 km (18 mi). The opening ceremony is illustrated here in a traditional Japanese ukiyoe print.President of JICA since 2015. Emeritus Professor of the University of Tokyo. His specialty is modern Japanese politics and diplomacy. He has taught at multiple universities and has also served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations) and on various committees established by the Government of Japan.Shinichi Kitaokademocratic system that allowed the Japanese people to unleash their full potential.Under this new democratic system, Japan modernized The Origin of Japan’s Modernization:Reviewing the Significance of the Meiji Restoration after 150 Years