One day, a few months back, I suddenly realized it was the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration and yet I had heard nothing of any kind of commemoration or celebration in Japan, with the exception of some purely local events. To me, it seems that the founding of modern Japan is on a par with, say, the French Revolution for France, or the American Revolution for the US. Indeed, just as the American Revolution proved that a Republic could survive in a populous, large state, Meiji proved that non-Europeans could establish a vibrant industrial revolution and a modern polity capable of sustaining its independence in the face of encroaching imperialism.

I've asked a few Japanese friends and they tell me that there are different views about its merits and demerits, that it is just one of a number of milestones in Japanese history, etc. They did not exhibit any of the emotional attachment that the American or French Revolutions have for their citizens--despite all the legitimate controversies that apply to these events, particularly France's reign of terror. I've never heard a really satisfactory explanation. I'd love to hear from experts about why this is the case, about how it is taught in Japan's schools, etc.

Richard Katz