Science and Technology in Japan

Science and Technology
In Japan
Dr. Darius Greenidge
Spring Term 2020
Lecture 3. The Quest for Independent
Development: Geopolitical concerns・
Geologic concerns
1
As Japan is an island nation, it can certainly be
said that as long as world human technology is
advanced to a limited degree, such a nation is
basically the safest from a geopolitical standpoint.
In other words, the best protection from invasion
is by being surrounded by, or surrounding one’s
self with water, such as in the case of
the moat of a castle.
If the world were a more peaceful place, there
would be nothing to worry about…
2
However, once technology and science have
advanced in other nations to such a degree that
ships can sail without dependence upon the wind,
things become more perilous.
Once a nation has been isolated for so long, that it
finds itself technologically “left behind”, its rulers
then find themselves faced with the quandary of
“how to catch up”.
3
Matchlock rifles and pistols may have been introduced to Japan
through Southeast Asia, before the Portuguese brought them in
directly in 1543 (Through Macau, also under Portuguese influence),
but guns in Japan are said to have been mainly used for hunting
rather than for military purposes, until warlords such as
Oda Nobunaga put them to thorough use on the battle field.
From: The History of guns in

Japan: Konrad Lorenz
4
The Tokugawa clan gained the upper hand in the seemingly
endless battles to gain control of the country, and with the
extended period of relative peace to follow, the need to
advance technologically in the military frame of thinking was
diminished.
Once the cannon on warships became so advanced that they
far exceeded the reach of Japanese artillery, a strong sense
of urgency embraced the Japanese rulers, and careful
dealings in trade and exchange of knowledge were conducted
despite the strict laws to restrict travel into and out of the
country・・・
・・・With the hopes of keeping pace or catching up,
・・・“in due time”?
5
However, time had run out, and the ever advancing
technology of Western armadas began to knock on the
doorsteps of Japan.
6
As was the habit of Western nations
during the “age of colonization”,
“unequal treaties” were forced upon
militarily weaker nations.
Wiki
7
Wiki
8
In view of the plight of most nations and
cultures of the world (including small Western
nations), can the forceful coming of the West
have been a “blessing in disguise”, or a
“curse” for the future of science, technology
and the society of Japan?
Were there other options?

9
The details of just exactly what the West
did bring to Japan shall be discussed at a
later date…but Japan had other concerns,
besides military threat, towards which
Western science and technology would
prove to be very useful・・・
10
Such as regarding the coping with
natural disasters:
Earthquakes, tsunami, flooding and

agricultural needs.
11
Plate tectonic Okhostsk Plate
(part of N.Amer?)
map of the
Japanese
island region Amurian Plate
(part of Eurasia?)
Pacific Plate
Pay heed to
the Okinawa
Plate Philippine Plate
With the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate by the
rebelling Satsuma and Choshu clans, the so called “Meiji
Restoration”, led to a new form of dealing with Western
nations, and in the process, reap the “rewards” of new
technologies and status.
Interestingly, although the future results would be criticized
by Western nations in later history, most of such advances
were the result of the advice from those very nations.
However this may be debated, Japan was launched onto the
forefront of modern science and technology.
13
What was it that led to a relatively successful advance into
the Western world of science and technology for Japan?
In what manner did the rulers, old and new, carry out policy,
in order to spare the country the disasters that were to befall
surrounding nations?
Let us take a look, into the fundamental foundation of
thought that Japan seems to have carefully passed down
through the ages, be it wise at some times, or faulted at
others.
14
What’s this
then?!
15
Let us now begin to explore that process of
development, that was for a time, relatively
free of Western control・・・
End
16

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Science and Technology

From: The History of guns in

Were there other options?

Earthquakes, tsunami, flooding and

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