Spiritual War in Japan

Japan’s military was very limited before Meiji Restoration. Meiji Japan abolished the samurai class because they opposed the policy of “Rich Country, Strong Military.”  

The Meiji government ended the samurai monopoly on military service, and outlawed for a samurai to carry a sword in 1876. The Samura were wiped out in Meiji Japan.

Three years earlier, the Meiji government started mandatory three years military service in 1873. From 1868, the Meiji leaders began facing Japan’s enemies—European military power and Christianity.

Meiji Japan quickly built a modern military by modeling its army after the Germans. In the modernization of Japan, German officers were invited to train Japanese to use modern weaponry.

The organization of the navy was based on the British system. In 1872, a Navy Ministry was formed. Both Japanese-built and foreign-bought ships were added to the Japanese fleet.

Japan won Sino-Japanese War, 1894, and Russo-Japanese war, 1905, and WWI in 1918. Japan succeeded to develop strong military because of its strong industrial base.

Modernization in the Meiji era transformed Japan into the most militarized nation in Asia.

By 1912, Japan was considered the major power in the Far East. Japan no longer feared the military power of European nations.

However, due to a traditional fear of Christianity, the Meiji leaders still feared Japan’s second enemy—Christian Imperialism. They were afraid that Christianity would subjugate Japanese people spiritually.

In the westernization of Japan, the Japanese became obsessed with Western styles. The Meiji Emperor adopted western ways in an attempt to modernize Japan.

The Meiji leaders had to find a way to prevent Christian influences from spreading in Japan.