The Disappearance of the Role of Samurai During the Meiji Restoration

Throughout much of recorded Japanese history, the samurai stands out as the prevailing image of Japanese honor and pride, yet the role of the samurai in Japanese society nearly vanished after the Meiji Restoration. During the Meiji Restoration, Japan recognized its inferiority compared to other seemingly more advanced Western Civilizations. Japan's inadequacy became blaringly apparent when Commodore Mathew Perry with the backing of the US Navy forced Japan to openly trade with the United States. Immediately, Japan recognized the need for change, and this change ultimately brings about the destruction of the samurai in its traditional sense. However, the gradual dissolution of the samurai came as a result of the actions taken by the samurai themselves. Ultimately, the samurai, both symbolically and literally the leaders of the people, recognized that if Japan wished to remain an independent entity it would require drastic social, political, and economical changes. In essence, Western influence forced Japan to recognize the need to revolutionize every faucet of their country in order to adapt to the evolving world. Therefore, recognizing the futility and inefficiency of maintaining the same classical ideology, the samurai ultimately had to alter their role in society and become part of the modernization movement initiated by the Meiji government or simply disappear as Japan became a different nation and their traditional roles served no purpose