Synopsis

Seventy-five years have passed since the West and other nations embraced rapid industrialization, yet Japan remained a society rooted in tradition, governed by samurai, and largely isolated from global affairs. However, with the opening of its borders in the 19th century, Japan embarked on a swift path of modernization, rapidly achieving technological parity with industrialized nations within a few decades. On this episode of Japanology Plus, we examine Japan’s remarkable industrial expansion, f