Firstly, I agree to Fukuzawa Yukichi that it is important to strengthen Japan now before the Westerners invade her just like they how invaded China. I support his view of having a strong Japan for he is the man who introduced western culture to Japan, indicating that he has a deep understanding in the western culture. Therefore, he definitely has the ability to estimate the westerners’ strength militarily as well as economically. Hence, it is important to heed to his advice. Furthermore, it is true that the westerners’ weaponry and technology are more superior to ours. Their invention—steam train has proved to be one of the most important human inventions towards industrialization, suggesting their edge-cutting technology.

Moreover, the Triple Intervention in 1885 forcing Japan to give up Liaotung Peninsula has witnessed Japan’s vulnerability towards the Western powers. It proved that Japan has no position go against the western countries as she has yet attained the same position as the westerners politically as well as militarily.

As above mention, going to war seem to be the key to improve the lives of the commoners, as there is a widespread of unemployment because of the series of economic crisis. The Japanese commoners’ lives are hard nowadays and they need more land; land for agriculture, land for new industries and land to live on. Furthermore, Japan is facing an overpopulation problem due to her geographical disadvantage. 75% of Japan’s land consists of hills and mountains and 45% of the population actually live at 17% of its land area, showing the dense population in the lowlands. In addition, it has 40 active volcanoes which made up of 10% of the world’s total number of volcanoes, indicating the frequency of the Japanese experiencing volcanic eruptions. Thus, given the fact that the people have very crammed spaces for living and working, there is a need to fight for more “living space”. Also, with Japan’s worsening relationship with the western powers, it desperately needs more staple food from other countries due to its limited land for rice cultivation.

In addition, we must not only protect Japan’s line of sovereignty but also strive toward its line of advantage, which meant that Japan should extend its influence and control beyond its national borders in order to ensure its security just as Yamagata recommended. Yamagata took part in the Meiji restoration and is the head of war ministry presently, hence he must be very loyal to Japan as he holds a very important position in the military, meaning that we should follow his recommendations as he has his interests for Japan for whatever he does.

Some topics in this essay:
Furthermore Japan, Yamagata Aritomo’s, Wall Street, Japanese Military, Ito Hirobumi, Liaotung Peninsula, Yamagata Meiji, Japan Westerners, South-East Asia, Holland Russia, western powers, japan war, lead japan war, lead japan, war due, japanese military, japan’s economy, raw materials, foreign trade, asian countries, western culture, ego japanese military, japan war due, raw materials market, war due economic,