Japanese Society
A brief look at the traditional societies, social classes, and political changes of Japan.
Social Status in Feudal Japan
The societies of feudal Japan followed a hierarchy, with power fluctuating between the classes over time. The broad social classes, from high to low, were as follows:
The emperor: At the very pinnacle of Japanese society sat the emperor and royal family. Emperors tended to wield little real power, allowing them to stay above the infighting of the nobility.
The shogun: The shogun functioned like a prime minister and military commander. His authority was often the strongest in the empire. The emperor bestowed legitimacy on the shogun, who then worked to keep other noble families in line.
The daimyo: Other noble houses made up the daimyo class. They answered to the shogun and ruled over lands and their peasants.
The samurai and ronin: The officer class, or samurai, served the nobility as retainers and military leaders. Over time, they developed a distinct philosophy influenced by Zen Buddhism. Those who did not serve a lord, either through defeat or disgrace, were known as ronin.
Peasant farmers and fishermen: The majority of the population survived through farming. In coastal areas, fishing was also a common occupation. These roles were seen as an honorable living, since they produced their own food and goods.
Artisans and merchants: Those who lived through the support of others, no matter how prestigious or wealthy, were generally held in low esteem.
Within each of these ranks, varying reputation, wealth, and family history determined a person’s status. In some cases, for example, the head of a powerful family might possess more resources and fighting men than the shogun. Similarly, samurai could rise and fall from the ranks of the nobility. While legitimacy, which stemmed from the emperor, was highly prized, the social hierarchy could be reshuffled through warfare. Honor played and continues to play an important role in Japanese society. In past centuries, those who lost status, or face, could respond with violence. Samurai reserved the right to kill any peasant who failed to respect them. This encouraged the growth of a polite, indirect communication style meant to promote harmony and avoid embarrassment.
Gender Roles in Traditional Japanese Society
Women in Japan were expected to serve their families, produce children, and make peaceful homes. The rights of women constricted during this era through the influence of Confucianism. Upper class women rarely left their homes, though they exercised authority over their household. They were often educated, but expected to concern themselves mainly with their family. Among the samurai class, women could also be trained to fight alongside men. These rare female warriors, typically armed with naginata polearms, were known as onna-bugeisha. As society grew more peaceful, however, their status diminished.
Social Changes in the 19th and 20th Centuries
By the Edo period, the Tokugawa Shogunate had imposed peace on much of Japan. The samurai effectively became minor nobles, and politics took precedence over warfare. The Meiji Restoration eroded the power of the shogun in favor of imperial authority in the late 19th century. Emperor Meiji established a constitutional monarchy, including a prime minister and elected council, or Diet. With these changes came industrialization and the development of a more modern, Western-influenced army. The samurai lost many of their rights and were gradually absorbed into the military. The daimyo lost their lands, which became prefectures, and slowly receded from public view. The capital moved from Kyoto, the former seat of the emperor, to the shogun’s traditional seat in Tokyo.
These reforms came rapidly, but they did not erase the past entirely. As before, the emperor was more of a figurehead than a ruler. Japan’s military class, those who had fought to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate, continued to wield great influence. The military branches pushed for aggressive expansion to protect Japan. The empire, under Emperor Hirohito, entered a treaty with Germany and Italy in 1940 to form the Axis Powers. The resulting World War II pitted the island nation primarily against the United States, ending with defeat and devastation in 1945.
Modern Japanese Society
After Japan’s surrender, the nation experienced many social changes. Emperor Hirohito remained in office as a national symbol until his death in 1989. American occupiers restructured the Japanese government to reflect democratic ideals. The military was dismantled and its leaders either tried for war crimes or stripped of power. Women were granted greater rights, and peasants enjoyed more social mobility. As the Japanese economy recovered, it entered new treaties with the United States and other nations. The United States continues to maintain military bases in Japan.
Today, Japanese society is complex and influenced by both its past and the promise of the future. Its overall culture remains somewhat conservative. Economic success, rather than family, is now the primary marker of status. This encourages a hard-working and competitive attitude among its workers and students. While women possess equal rights, they are less likely to pursue higher education or rise in the workforce. Japan’s current ruler is Emperor Akihito, who has reigned since 1989.
References
Brown, Delmer, Ed. The Cambridge History of Japan. 4 vols. Cambridge University Press. 1988.
Henshall, Kenneth. Springer. A History of Japan: From Stone Age to Superpower. 2012.
Perez, Louis G. The History of Japan. Greenwood Publishing. 1998.
Smith, Robert. Japanese Society: Tradition, Self, and the Social Order. CUP Archive. 1985.
“The World Factbook: Japan.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 17 Oct. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html.
Walker, Brett L. A Concise History of Japan. Cambridge University Press. 2015.
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