... the western civilizations. The Meiji sent young men to study abroad and learn new traits from the west. Before this drastic move the traditional Japanese society was largely isolated from all other civilizations. By doing this the Japanese managed to strengthen the economy, strengthen the government, and make social reforms. Meiji leaders made the economy a major priority. They encouraged Japan's business class ... to adopt western methods. They Japanese built railroads to allow the shipment of goods and transportation of people, a banking system to aid in the expansion of businesses an...

• Word Count: 441
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... of his own aspirations and perhaps it is this own reality that drives him to his eventual end. He sees the best men of his generation mining coal and pulling rickshaws, he sees Western "civilization" forcing them to work jobs they hate to buy stuff they don't need, he ... sees, in short, the destruction of an idealized traditional Japanese culture by a very different west. Part of Akutagawa undoubtedly wants to view the Westerners influence upon Japan as immoral and corrupt, yet he sees ... be the late theme of Japan and its artistic community; the Meiji Restoration turned Japan every ...

• Word Count: 825
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate