Tokugawa Japan Research Paper

Adriana Vazquez 1
Tokugawa Japan Tokugawa rule was a turning point for Japan, economically and socially. It brought about new changes and fresh ideas. Even though it was a military dictatorship in theory, it was a necessary step to advance Japan. It was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and throughout the almost three hundred years of the regime it was run by Tokugawa shoguns.
The Tokugawa period lasted from 1600 to 1867 during which time the Tokugawa family became the unchallenged rulers of Japan. Tokugawa Ieyasu was a powerful Honshu daimyo. Ieyasu rode the coat tails of his predecessor, Hideyoshi, and because Hideyoshi put Ieyasu on a five member Board of Regents he already had power and control of his own. But after Hideyoshi’s death
Kabuki was a racy and controversial change from the previous style of No. No was thematically elegant, restrained, and indicative of classical drama, while Kabuki had its emphasis on violence, music, and dramatic gestures. Kabuki began as the peoples’ entertainment and amusement unlike drama which originated in the emperor’s court. Due to its commercial success as well as the fact that it was performed by prostitutes, the government attempted to restrict and even stop this new form of drama . They believed it would have a debilitating effect on morals, so they prohibited women from performing on stage. Instead, they tried to create a new, professional class of all male actors to play the parts of the female characters. The switch had its pros and cons and its share of mixed reactions. On the positive side, it placed a greater emphasis on physical activities, such as sword fighting and acrobatics. However, conversely, it promoted and encouraged homosexual
While a handful of samurai profited from transferring into a managerial class for their daimyo, the rest suffered and fell into debt. Others were released from their daimyo or lord and became ronin or ‘masterless samurai’. Occasionally the ronin would revolt or even plot against their local authorities. In one story told, known as ‘The Forty-Seven Ronin”, they were forced to commit seppuku , or honorable suicide, by a shogunate official. They instead assassinated the shogunate for revenge. Although their actions were well received with the population, the ronin were later forced to take their own lives.
To control the people, the Tokugawa shoguns created decrees that had to be followed. The people’s lives were so micromanaged by the regime that things such as, “if a person has to leave the village for business or pleasure, that person must return by ten at night” and “young people are forbidden to congregate in great numbers,” were strictly enforced. Doing this increased their own