Constructing Modern Japan: Politics and Youth

Why was Japan able to emerge as the first Asian nation to establish a modern constitutional state? What benefits and drawbacks came with this rapid modernization, and how do these historical developments continue to affect Japanese society today?

Drawing from my book, The Origins of Modern Japanese Bureaucracy (Bloomsbury 2019), we will explore these questions by highlighting the central role that youth played in driving Japan’s modernization and discussing how young people continue to shape new political and social directions. Furthermore, the lecture will connect the transformative historical dynamics with their ongoing relevance in contemporary Japan, illustrating how the lessons of the past inform the challenges and opportunities faced by today’s society.