When Emperor Meiji began his rule, in 1867, Japan was a splintered
empire, dominated by the shogun and the daimyos, who ruled over the
country's more than 250 decentralized domains and who were, in the main,
cut off from the outside world, staunchly antiforeign, and committed to
the traditions of the past. Before long, the shogun surrendered to the
emperor, a new constitution was adopted, and Japan emerged as a modern,
industrialized state.
Despite the length of his reign, little has been written about the
strangely obscured figure of Meiji himself, the first emperor ever to
meet a European. Most historians discuss the period that takes his name
while barely mentioning the man, assuming that he had no real
involvement in affairs of state. Even Japanese who believe Meiji to have
been their nation's greatest ruler may have trouble recalling a single
personal accomplishment that might account for such a glorious
reputation. Renowned Japan scholar Donald Keene sifts the available
evidence to present a rich portrait not only of Meiji but also of rapid
and sometimes violent change during this pivotal period in Japan's
history.
In this vivid and engrossing biography, we move with the emperor through
his early, traditional education; join in the formal processions that
acquainted the young emperor with his country and its people; observe
his behavior in court, his marriage, and his relationships with various
consorts; and follow his maturation into a "Confucian" sovereign
dedicated to simplicity, frugality, and hard work. Later, during Japan's
wars with China and Russia, we witness Meiji's struggle to reconcile his
personal commitment to peace and his nation's increasingly militarized
experience of modernization. Emperor of Japan conveys in sparkling prose
the complexity of the man and offers an unrivaled portrait of Japan in a
period of unique interest.
