[Lumi Chan]

I did not know that Japanese tried to use the Anglo-Japanese Alliances to take over German interests in Qingdao and Shandon Peninsula at all. I actually did not know that the Japanese took action to go against the Russians (not a history teacher and instead an English teacher) so this is great information to learn. I do know that Japanese wanted to spread their influences over China historically but didn’t know they used the alliances to its advantage.

I found your explanation Pan-Asian attitude through the POV of the Japanese very interesting. It was very thorough in such that the Americans and their push against the Japanese very much lead to their reaction and violence from Japan

[Lumi Chan]

I knew that Japan to being with is a big trade state amongst the Asian countries but it's interesting to hear about the comparison of why it's not homogenous. I enjoyed the breakdown of why Japan decided to break off their vassal relationship with China because they see each other as too similar. I had no idea that because they were too similar that Japan decided to break off the vassal relationship, I never even knew that they broke off their relationship at one point. Your explanation of the Ritsu-Ryo made it easy for me to understand the system built and introduced to the Japanese people in the early formation of Japan, this is necessary and thorough information I can pass onto my students when we move onto our literature unit of Japan after China. I did know that many Japanese, historically, were against the idea of Christianity but did not know that many came up rising to and became Christians to stand against the heavy taxing in the society. I also found it extremely interesting how Japan coped with Westernization by creating a new government, making new rules of taxation to run the government which eventually built the parties and constitution of Japan today. Your lecture is extensive and gave clear and coherent history of the formation of Japan and how Asia and the West influenced heavily on the formation of Tokyo from Edo and the Tokyo we know now today. I thoroughly enjoyed this!

 

[Lumi Chan]

I genuinely had no idea that fires were so common in the common Edo era of Japan. It’s unbelievable how vulnerable they were to fires given the extensive history we still have of Japan. It’s interesting that the furniture, like the sliding doors you mentioned, was a result of their homes being so flammable. I had no idea that sliding doors were created by the Japanese for this purpose, I honestly just thought because it saved space compared to having a door that pulls out as Japan’s spaces are usually so small (well currently in the modern world). I find it amazing how through the causes of fire shaped the buildings, from wooden based to the Ginza Brick down. I had no idea that it was due to fire that they changed their structures and honestly thought that the purpose was due to westernization and the influence of the western culture.

[Lumi Chan]

Thank you for sharing this information about the moderinzation of Japan. I did not know about Fukuzawa Yukichi at all when doing my own research to build my introduction to the culture and moderinzation of Japan for my students. I appreciate the thorough explanation of how Edo turned into the Tokyo we know today, in terms of it's naming and historical background of Edo. I did not know Hokkaido was at first an inbetween land for Japan, that was an intersting fact. Thank you for giving the breakdown dismantling systems of Samurai to commoners, my students will find this information espeically useful when we dive into the literature and writing of poetry and texts from the Edo time period and modern time period Japan. I already know from speaking with my students that many facts and timeline you gave will help enhance their understanding of culture and society in Japan, especially the fact that buddhism at one point in Japan was not as highly promoted as it is today, as you mentioned in the video. Thank you again great information! 

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