Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 131

Lesson 133

Narration and the written language

58 lines

Modernization, unequal treaties and militarization · Narration 1 of 2

From feudal institutions to industry

*一八六七年の 王政復古と 同時に 日本は、封建時代の 衣を ぬぎ、資本主義的国家の 基礎を きずいた* says Japan cast off the feudal age and laid the foundations of a capitalist state.

In less than fifty years, Japan reformed feudal institutions and rapidly developed its industries.

*ペリー 提督の 来朝当時、先進国諸国と 結んだ 通商条約は 日本に とっては 非常に 不利な ものだった* says the commercial treaties were very unfavorable to Japan.

National strength and Meiji changes

*それ以来 日本は どんなに 正当な 要求であっても、武力の 背景が なければ 認められないと 考え、一ずに 富国強兵と、そのための 殖産興業に 全力を そそいだ* says Japan thought legitimate demands needed military backing.

It devoted all its strength to national wealth, military strength, and industrial promotion.

The Meiji Era established a modern cabinet in 1885 and completed the Japanese Constitution in 1888.

Victories over China and Russia raised Japan's international standing and accelerated its capitalist development.

Kanji: 衣

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: 資

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: 義

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: 制

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: 育

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 1

    せんはっぴゃくろくじゅうしちねんのおうせいふっことどうじににほんは、ほうけんじだいのころもをぬぎ、しほんしゅぎてきこっかのきそをきずいた。

    With the restoration of imperial rule in 1867, Japan cast off the garb of the feudal age and laid the foundations of a capitalist nation.

    一one
    八eight
    六six
    七seven
    年year
    の's
    王政imperial restoration
    復古imperial restoration
    とwith
    同時same time
    にat
    日本Japan
    は、topic
    封建feudal age
    時代feudal age
    のof
    衣garb
    をobject
    ぬぎ、cast off
    資本capitalist
    主義capitalist
    的capitalist
    国家nation
    のof
    基礎foundations
    をobject
    きずいlaid
    た。laid
  2. 2

    そしてごじゅうねんたらずでほうけんてきせいどをかいかくし、おくれたさんぎょうをきゅうそくにそだてあげていった。

    Then, in less than fifty years, it reformed the feudal system and rapidly developed its backward industries.

  3. 3

    せかいのひとびとがおどろいたのもむりではなかった。

    It was no wonder that people around the world were amazed.

  4. 4

    ペリーていとくのらいちょうとうじ、せんしんこくしょこくとむすんだつうしょうじょうやくはにほんにとってはひじょうにふりなものだった。

    At the time of Commodore Perry’s arrival in Japan, the commercial treaties Japan concluded with the advanced nations were very unfavorable to Japan.

  5. 5

    それいらいにほんはどんなにせいとうなようきゅうであっても、ぶりょくのはいけいがなければみとめられないとかんがえ、いちずにふこくきょうへいと、そのためのしょくさんこうぎょうにぜんりょくをそそいだ。

    From then on, Japan believed that even the most legitimate demand would not be recognized unless backed by military power, and devoted all its strength single-mindedly to enriching the country and strengthening the military, and to promoting industry for that purpose.

The Meiji Era (1868-1912)

In 1885 the modern cabinet system was put into practice.

Ito, Hirobumi was appointed the first Prime Minister of Japan.

Then, the year 1888 saw the completion of the Japanese Constitution.

Chief among important events in the Meiji Era were the two wars Japan fought--one with China and the other with Russia, and Japan emerged victorious in both wars.

The fact that Japan emerged victorious from these two wars was instrumental in elevating her international standing and in accelerating the development of her capitalistic structure.

In the earlier decades of the Meiji Era, the nation was busy acquiring new knowledge and skill from Occidental countries in the different fields of politics, economics, and science.

In due time there appeared many who proceeded to assimilate the imported knowledge with their unique national temperament and needs, and to carry on researches along original or creative lines of their own.

Brilliant discoveries in medicine and surgery, notable inventions in the manufacture of arms and ammunitions, and other triumphs were achieved.

The study of Japanese and Chinese classics, which had for a time suffered sad neglect, was revived with energy.
The Taishoo and Shoowa Era (1912- )

In July 1912 Emperor Meiji passed away and Emperor Taishoo ascended the throne.

Under the reign of the new emperor, Japan’s influence was further expanded.

The year 1914 saw the outbreak of World War I.

As an ally of Great Britain, Japan sided with the Allied Powers.

The international position of Japan as one of the victor nations went up higher; Japan was now among the “Big Five” of the world.

After the war, conferences were held and treaties signed with a view of securing peace in the world.

At the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919 a new peace instrument was set up.

This was the League of Nations.

Japan became a member of the Council of the League.

In 1921 a conference was held in Washington and two treaties were concluded on that occasion--the Four-Power Pact pertaining to the Pacific Islands and the Nine-Power Treaty in regard to China.

Emperor Taishoo passed away in 1926 and the present emperor acceded to the throne; Japan was now in the era of Shoowa.

The Anti-War Pact was signed in Paris in 1928.

Two years later the Naval Disarmament Conference was held in London.

Then in 1932 another armament limitation conference took place--this time in Geneva.

Japan took part in all these conferences, and signed all the treaties involved.

Prior to the Geneva Conference Japan had had a clash with China.

In 1932 Japan helped Manchuria gain its independence, thereby extending her influence in that part of Asia.

In 1937 the clash of interests developed into a definite armed conflict between Japan and China.

This was a unilateral action on the part of Japan.

Naturally enough, it provoked the opposition of the United States and Great Britain and ultimately led to the Pacific War.

The war ended in a crushing defeat of Japan and landed the nation in a very sorry plight.
一
one
八
eight
六
six
七
seven
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
の
See Grammar Notes
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
は、
leaves
時代
era, period
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
国家
country, nation; a state
基礎
basis; foundation
五十
50
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
し、
city
産業
industry
人々
people
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
も
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
提督
commodore
来朝
arrival in Japan
当時、
at that time; then
国
country, nation
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
通商
commerce; trade
な
I wish, I hope, huh
もの
things (tangible)
どんな
what kind of; what sort of
武力
military force; armed force
殖産
increase in production
興業
industrial enterprise

Wars, industry and military rule · Narration 2 of 2

Industrial growth and military government

*第一次世界大戦には、連合国に 加って 参戦すると 同時に 工業的に 二大発展を とげた* says Japan joined the Allies and achieved two major industrial advances during World War I.

Party politics developed around this time, but governments supported by the military formed from around 1932.

*そして 遂に 第二次世界大戦の 惨禍を 招き、歴史 始まって 以来 日本は 初めて 外国の 武力に 屈した* says that Japan yielded to foreign armed force in World War II.

From alliance to defeat

During the Taishoo and Shoowa eras, Japan joined the Allied Powers in World War I and gained international standing.

Japan joined the League of Nations and took part in peace and disarmament conferences.

The 1937 armed conflict with China led to the Pacific War and Japan's crushing defeat.

Kanji: 加

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: 参

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 6

    せんはっぴゃくきゅうじゅうよねんからごねんにかけてにっしんせんそうでしなをやぶり、せんきゅうひゃくよねんからごねんにかけては、ロシアをまんしゅうののにやぶり、せかいのひとびとをあっといわせた。

    Japan defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–95, and defeated Russia on the plains of Manchuria in 1904–05, astonishing people around the world.

  2. 7

    だいいちじせかいたいせんには、れんごうこくにくわってさんせんするとどうじにこうぎょうてきににだいはってんをとげた。

    In World War I, Japan entered the war on the side of the Allies and at the same time achieved two major industrial advances.

  3. 8

    このころからせいとうせいじがはったつしたが、あまりながくつづかず、せんきゅうひゃくさんじゅうにねんころからぐんぶのしじするせいふがつくられた。

    Party politics developed from around this time, but did not last very long, and from around 1932 governments supported by the military were formed.

  4. 9

    そしてついにだいにじせかいたいせんのさんかをまねき、れきしはじまっていらいにほんははじめてがいこくのぶりょくにくっした。

    This eventually brought about the calamity of World War II, and for the first time in its history Japan yielded to the armed force of foreign countries.

九
nine
四
four
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
五
five
支那
China
満州
Marchuria
野
field
せ
height (of man)
工業
manufacturing industry
二
two
この頃
these days, nowadays
政治
government; adminis-tration; politics
し
city
三
three
頃
approximate point of time (See Gram. Notes)
軍部
military
遂に
finally
惨禍
terrible disaster; cirushing calamity

Restoration, treaties and national power · Questions 1 of 2

Restoration, treaties and national power

The questions ask when imperial rule returned, what Japan changed, and why it pursued national strength.

*日本は なぜ 富国強兵に 全力を そそぎましたか* means "Why did Japan devote all its strength to enriching the country and strengthening the military?"

An answer states that Japan believed a legitimate demand needed military power behind it.

Other answers give a year, describe the commercial treaties, or state the dates of the Sino-Japanese War.

  1. 10

    にほんれきし（さん）

    (1867-1945)

  2. 11

    おうせいふっこはなんねんにありましたか。

    In what year did the restoration of imperial rule take place?

  3. 12

    おうせいふっことどうじににほんはどうしましたか。

    What did Japan do at the time of the restoration of imperial rule?

  4. 13

    ペリーていとくのらいちょうとうじにほんががいこくとむすんだつうしょうじょうやくはどうでしたか。

    What were the commercial treaties that Japan concluded with foreign countries like at the time of Commodore Perry’s arrival?

  5. 14

    そのためにほんはどうしましたか。

    What did Japan do because of that?

  6. 15

    にほんはなぜふこくきょうへいにぜんりょくをそそぎましたか。

    Why did Japan devote all its strength to enriching the country and strengthening the military?

  7. 16

    にっしんせんそうはなんねんからなんねんにかけてありましたか。

    From what year to what year did the Sino-Japanese War take place?

（三）
three
は
leaves
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
当時
at that time; then
なぜ
why?

Wars, party politics and defeat · Questions 2 of 2

Wars, governments and defeat

The questions ask whom Japan fought, when its governments changed, and what happened in World War II.

*軍部の 支持する 政府が つくられたのは 何年頃ですか* means "Around what year was a government supported by the military formed?"

An answer gives the approximate year 1932.

Other answers name a country, describe Japan's actions in World War I, or state that Japan yielded to foreign armed force.

  1. 17

    にっしんせんそうでにほんはどのくにをやぶりましたか。

    What country did Japan defeat in the Sino-Japanese War?

  2. 18

    せんきゅうひゃくよねんからごねんにかけて、にほんはどことたたかいましたか。

    Whom did Japan fight in 1904–05?

  3. 19

    だいいちじせかいたいせんににほんはどうしましたか。

    What did Japan do in World War I?

  4. 20

    にほんのせいとうせいじはいつからはじまりましたか。

    When did party politics begin in Japan?

  5. 21

    ぐんぶのしじするせいふがつくられたのはなんねんころですか。

    Around what year was a government supported by the military formed?

  6. 22

    だいにじせかいたいせんでにほんはどうなりましたか。

    What happened to Japan in World War II?

どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
いつ
when?
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)

Feudal reform and politics words · Word list 1 of 3

Institutions and modernization

These words cover feudal institutions, capitalist development, treaties, and party politics.

*封建時代* means "feudal age", while *資本主義的* means "capitalistic".

*通商条約* means "commercial treaty" and names the foreign agreements in the reading.

  1. 23

    --とどうじに

    at the same time; simultaneously with

  2. 24

    ほうけんじだい

    feudal age

  3. 25

    ころもをぬぐ

    take the robe off; change from ----

  4. 26

    しほんしゅぎてき

    capitalistic

  5. 27

    せいとうせいじ

    party politics

  6. 28

    きづく

    build

  7. 29

    かいかくする

    reform

  8. 30

    きゅうそくに

    rapidly; swiftly

  9. 31

    そだてあげる

    bring up; train; educate

  10. 32

    らいちょう

    arrival in Japan

  11. 33

    せんしんこく

    advanced nations

  12. 34

    つうしょうじょうやく

    commercial treaty

--と同時に
at the same time; simultaneously with
封建時代
feudal age
衣をぬぐ
take the robe off; change from ----
資本主義的
capitalistic
政党政治
party politics
きづく
build
改革する
reform
急速に
rapidly; swiftly
育て上げる
bring up; train; educate
先進国
advanced nations
通商条約
commercial treaty

Negotiation, war and production words · Word list 2 of 3

Negotiation, strength and production

These words cover negotiation and revision, entering war, national strength, and industrial production.

*交渉* means "negotiation", and *富国強兵* means "wealth and military strength of a state".

*殖産* means "increase in production" and names the economic aim paired with national strength.

  1. 35

    ふりな

    disadvantageous

  2. 36

    しばしば

    often

  3. 37

    こうしょう

    negotiation

  4. 38

    かいせい

    revision; amendment

  5. 39

    うけいれる

    accept; comply with

  6. 40

    せいとうな

    justifiable; fair

  7. 41

    さんせんする

    participate in war

  8. 42

    いちずに

    with all one’s heart; whole-heartedly

  9. 43

    ふこくきょうへい

    wealth and military strength of a state

  10. 44

    しょくさん

    increase in production

  11. 45

    こうぎょう

    industrial enterprise

  12. 46

    ぜんりょくをそそぐ

    do one’s best

不利な
disadvantageous
しばしば
often
交渉
negotiation
改正
revision; amendment
受け入れる
accept; comply with
正当な
justifiable; fair
参戦する
participate in war
一ずに
with all one’s heart; whole-heartedly
富国強兵
wealth and military strength of a state
全力をそそぐ
do one’s best

War, alliances and military words · Word list 3 of 3

War, alliance and defeat

These words cover wars, alliances, military support, calamity, and defeat.

*日清戦争* means "Sino-Japanese War", and *連合国* means "allied nations".

*屈する* means "yield", "submit to", or "bow to", the result stated at the end of the reading.

  1. 47

    にっしんせんそう

    Sino-Japanese War

  2. 48

    しな

    China

  3. 49

    やぶる

    beat; defeat

  4. 50

    まんしゅう

    Marchuria

  5. 51

    の

    field

  6. 52

    あっといわせる

    astonish

  7. 53

    れんごうこく

    allied nations

  8. 54

    くわわる

    join

  9. 55

    ぐんぶ

    military

  10. 56

    しじする

    support

  11. 57

    さんか

    terrible disaster; cirushing calamity

  12. 58

    くっする

    yield; submit to; bow to

Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

1 Topics:

a Converse with your classmate on the following topics in Japanese.

(1) Restoration of Imperial rule.

(2) Why Japan took the measure of wealth and military strength of a state.

2 Exercise:

a 次の 文章を 日本語に 訳してください。

(1) With the restoration of Imperial rule, Japan built the foundation of a capitalistic nation.

(2) No matter how justifiable your demand may be, if you have no military backing it won’t be recognized.

(3) The commercial treaties that Japan concluded with advanced nations were very disadvantageous for Japan.
Homework

1 Study the Narration thoroughly and memorize the vocabulary.

2 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercises given.

3 Learn to read and write the new Kanji.

4 Read the Cultural Notes.
日清戦争
Sino-Japanese War
破る
beat; defeat
あっと言わせる
astonish
連合国
allied nations
加わる
join
支持する
support
屈する
yield; submit to; bow to

The particulars

The course
Defense Language Institute, Japanese Basic Course, 1967 to 1971. Public domain. The teaching pages and the narration are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The book
Botchan, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.