What do you think?
Yamagata Aritomo in the Rise of Modern Japan, 1838-1922
Book by Hackett, Roger F.
- GenresHistory
386 pages, Hardcover
First published February 5, 1971
About the author
Roger F. Hackett
8 booksA pioneer in the field of Asian studies in the United States, Roger Fleming Hackett was emeritus professor of history at the University of Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
October 9, 2021
YA exhibits many of the elements one would like to see in a scholarly history book. First, it is based on a thorough review of a large number of Japanese and English language primary and secondary sources.
Second, Hackett assimilates and integrates these into a well organized series of chapters each of which cover a clear period of time. Dividing the chapters into sections also facilitates the reading.
Third, Yamagata’s usually pivotal role in significant events is discussed in a thorough, nuanced way. In fact, if anything the detail of these descriptions might be an example of TMI for some readers. Ie, it became a bit tedious to work my way through the text.
Fourth, there are numerous footnotes in each chapter for those who might wish to follow up on the author’s points. Additionally, there is a 12 page bibliography.
As I have read a few dozen books on Japanese history I can confirm that Hackett did a credible job of informing the reader of the main events and trends over what is known as the Meiji and Taisho eras (1868-Yamagata’s death in 1922). I claim no expertise on Japanese historiography of the period in which this book was published in 1971. But it seems to be an example of the kind of pro government, almost hero worship, which Calman decried in The Nature and Origins of Japanese Imperialism (published in 1992). Ie, Hackett does little more than pay lip service to the fact that the autocratic values and actions of Yamagata and his cohorts had profound consequences for the subsequent history of the country leading up to and through WW II. In order ‘to serve the Emperor’ these men suppressed, sometimes violently, any opposition. They set up a constitutional government with a parliament (the Diet) in 1890. But they severely limited suffrage and they placed strict limits on how much influence elected representatives could actually have on government policy. They were not beyond trying to buy votes in elections. And they worked hand in glove with industrialists to exploit their own citizens and those of Korea and Taiwan which became colonies after the war with China in 1894-95.
In the concluding pages of the book Hackett explains, if not justifies, these tendencies by noting that Yamagata was the product of his samurai upbringing. He even calls him the ‘architect of the heroic story of Japan.’ Finally, the author claimed that Yamagata was different than the ‘militarists’ who took control of the country by the early 1930’s in that he was willing to compromise, negotiate, and build alliances when it came to foreign affairs. Hackett fails to note, however, that was not the case when it came to Japan’s relations with Korea or China.
I agree with the accepted wisdom in the world of historians that Yamagata and his cohorts probably saved Japan from being invaded and colonized by the Western powers in the years following Perry’s arrival in 1854. But the manner in which they did so had its consequences in the longer term. Hackett at the very least minimizes these issues.
While I would recommend this book, I would add some provisos. First, it is slow going. Second, it takes a charitable position towards the country. It may well be that Hackett was also a product of the times in which he worked. Any reader should keep that in mind. After completing YA a reader who really wants a fuller account should read Calman’s book.
Second, Hackett assimilates and integrates these into a well organized series of chapters each of which cover a clear period of time. Dividing the chapters into sections also facilitates the reading.
Third, Yamagata’s usually pivotal role in significant events is discussed in a thorough, nuanced way. In fact, if anything the detail of these descriptions might be an example of TMI for some readers. Ie, it became a bit tedious to work my way through the text.
Fourth, there are numerous footnotes in each chapter for those who might wish to follow up on the author’s points. Additionally, there is a 12 page bibliography.
As I have read a few dozen books on Japanese history I can confirm that Hackett did a credible job of informing the reader of the main events and trends over what is known as the Meiji and Taisho eras (1868-Yamagata’s death in 1922). I claim no expertise on Japanese historiography of the period in which this book was published in 1971. But it seems to be an example of the kind of pro government, almost hero worship, which Calman decried in The Nature and Origins of Japanese Imperialism (published in 1992). Ie, Hackett does little more than pay lip service to the fact that the autocratic values and actions of Yamagata and his cohorts had profound consequences for the subsequent history of the country leading up to and through WW II. In order ‘to serve the Emperor’ these men suppressed, sometimes violently, any opposition. They set up a constitutional government with a parliament (the Diet) in 1890. But they severely limited suffrage and they placed strict limits on how much influence elected representatives could actually have on government policy. They were not beyond trying to buy votes in elections. And they worked hand in glove with industrialists to exploit their own citizens and those of Korea and Taiwan which became colonies after the war with China in 1894-95.
In the concluding pages of the book Hackett explains, if not justifies, these tendencies by noting that Yamagata was the product of his samurai upbringing. He even calls him the ‘architect of the heroic story of Japan.’ Finally, the author claimed that Yamagata was different than the ‘militarists’ who took control of the country by the early 1930’s in that he was willing to compromise, negotiate, and build alliances when it came to foreign affairs. Hackett fails to note, however, that was not the case when it came to Japan’s relations with Korea or China.
I agree with the accepted wisdom in the world of historians that Yamagata and his cohorts probably saved Japan from being invaded and colonized by the Western powers in the years following Perry’s arrival in 1854. But the manner in which they did so had its consequences in the longer term. Hackett at the very least minimizes these issues.
While I would recommend this book, I would add some provisos. First, it is slow going. Second, it takes a charitable position towards the country. It may well be that Hackett was also a product of the times in which he worked. Any reader should keep that in mind. After completing YA a reader who really wants a fuller account should read Calman’s book.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review