“The impact of social and cultural change in Meiji Japan was extensive.” Discuss.

Candidates are required to offer a considered and balanced review of the extent of social and cultural change in Meiji Japan. Extensive social change came with the loss of feudal domains, merit-based recruitment into government positions and the expropriation of the samurai. Cultural changes may include discussion of developments in travel, dress, hairstyle and occupations. Candidates may consider the extent of educational change following the Iwakura Mission, for example the expansion of female education and the Imperial Rescript on Education. Nevertheless, there were limitations to the extent of change and many Japanese remained resistant to Western values. Traditional roles and values remained important and many of the changes had limited impact in rural areas. Candidates may also argue that Japan’s social structure remained largely intact as the samurai and nobility still held considerable influence.