Getting Post Tokugawa Samurai Involved in the Meiji Government

In a period such as Meiji, individual ventures into commerce and industry were greatly needed and encouraged by the government and private advocates of modernization. However, getting samurai who'd lost everything to the Meiji reforms to be involved in the new government was quite the task. Some rebelled against the new government, some would go on to form or join political parties. Still others would go on to participate in the growing economy just as Shibuzaa Eiichi did. But why exactly was samurai participation important to the Meiji economy? And just how was one to encourage samurai participation? What reasons could one give for it's importance to the once warrior class called the samurai?

In his written work, Shibuzawa Eiichi* addresses the need of the country to strengthen. There was no way Japan could shake off the Western treaties without building up the economy and military, and that was going to take significant monetary contributions from all areas of the country. Thus, engaging in commerce and industry was part of a samurai's duty in order to promote national prosperity and economic growth. Additionally, it is also a samurai's duty as a protector of Japan to promote the national unity so desperately needed. This promotion of national unity involved becoming part of modernizing Japan, and not merely sitting on the sidelines watching time go by.

Looking back to Tokugawa Japan, it is clear that idleness causes economic stagnation. Samurai are men of good character and intellect, their refusal to participate in commerce poses a major threat to Japan's national well-being. Not only could their qualifications be put to use in entrepreneurial ventures, but it could be used in managerial positions. Shibuzawa Eiichi, a former samurai, even notes the lack of fitting and qualified individuals to take on managerial positions within government initiated ventures. He comments that he felt more highly qualified and able to succeed, which is due in major part to his background as a former samurai. Furthermore, involvement in business ventures or managerial positions maintains and builds one's honor, morals, and allows one to make a difference within their country. These aspects of samurai characteristics that might otherwise be neglected in modernization are put to use in entrepreneurial ventures. In this way, samurai can also promote ethics and morals within the business world. They can live by their codes by translating them into business, personal, and national betterment.

*Shibuzawa Eiichi's work can be found in

Lu, David. Japan: A Documentary History. Armonk: M.E Sharpe, 1997.