Lower Class Japan Analysis

The Hidden History of Lower Class Japan in the Meiji Restoration “History is written by the victors” is one of the most common expressions when looking at historical events. The winning side that gains power will always consider themselves the good people, and will tarnish the name of their “evil” adversaries. Therefore, it is important when looking at history to consider biases to prevent getting incorrect ideas about certain groups. However, history is also often written about the victors. Most historians and history classes tend to study the elites and government officials who make changes to countries and are extremely influential. Often there is little said about the other 99% of the country who aren’t considered as important. These people
He is first selected by the Tonami administration to work as and office boy,xx and soon after is forced to shift back and forth from living on the streets to staying with acquaintances.xxi Despite the improving conditions for many in Tokyo, once again there still seem to be many left behind. Shiba Goro even considers becoming a beggar for a period of time, when he sees another beggar boy on the street in Tokyo.xxii The new government also changed the most common religions, as “Shinto and Buddhism… had been forcibly separated by the government decree; temples had been destroyed; entire castles had been razed. Ancestors were no longer properly venerated.”xxiii Along with a lack of concerning for living conditions of the lower classes, the Meiji State also changed laws concerning religions, throwing aside what so many lower class people had believed in for hundreds of years. Eventually Shiba Goro is accepted to military school,xxiv in which he learns in a Western style French setting. However, after a visit from army inspectors the curriculum, staff, and dress were changed in order to fit a more Japanese style.xxv Shiba Goro writes that the students “became extremely angry and complained loudly that as future officers… they were being gravely insulted.”xxvi The military school which was originally used to properly educate students was changed to be more like an army boot-camp, completely disregarding the wishes of the staff and students. During the Satsuma Rebellion, many of the students were used to fight, despite not being properly prepared yet.xxvii After the rebellion, the surviving students used to put down the rebellion got in a large fight. Shiba Goro says “the reason for the fight was simple enough: The older students has seen something of this world - some had engage in mortal combat – and were too overwrought to settle down.” For the