The Last Samurai Explains the Final Days of Ancient Japan

It seems to me as if I’m now existing in another world, said Ido Homi as he reflected on the transformations Japan had gone through during his lifetime. The Meiji era had catapulted Japan from a secluded feudal society into the modern world, and he lived through it all. He spoke of a time when the country was closed off, its leaders fiercely committed to preserving the old ways. As a young student in the Edo era, Ido sailed abroad, an act that was still forbidden by the Tokugawa regime.

During this time, the idea of expelling foreigners had reached its peak. There were two groups of politicians at that time: one wanted to keep the country isolated, while the other believed it was necessary to open Japan to foreign trade. The first group’s cry was clear: “Expel the Barbarians.” Their plan was to defend Japan with guns made from temple bells. Few dared to speak in favor of modernization because it was dangerous; anyone advocating for opening Japan’s doors risked being killed for their opinions.

For Ido, traveling abroad was not only dangerous but illegal. Disguised as a merchant, he and his companion set off on their journey to the West. They stayed at a hotel in Yokohama, where they often went shopping in the foreign concession. Foreigners had settled in Yokohama, but it was far from thriving; only a few foreign houses stood scattered across the area. Adapting to foreign ways was awkward; they had to dress in European style but could not find ready-made suits. The group was forced to buy secondhand clothes and ill-fitting boots, struggling with their appearance.

This clash of cultures extended to their hair as well. Although the physicians of the time had their hair cut off, Ido believed they set the first example for dressing hair in European style. Their presence, a blend of old and new, caused confusion among both Europeans and Japanese. They appeared strange, wearing foreign clothes but still feeling tied to their traditions. Yet despite the odd looks and discomfort, this journey was pivotal in understanding that Japan could no longer cling to isolation.

Ido and his companions saw firsthand that Japan would have to modernize or be left behind. Upon arriving in London, they were deeply affected; the vastness of the city and its unfamiliar energy struck them immediately. Ido was glad to visit places like the Tower of London and stay at a hotel in American Square. Being in the heart of England, a powerful and highly developed nation, made him realize how much Japan had to learn to compete on the global stage.

One of the most eye-opening experiences for Ido was visiting English military and naval facilities, touring shipyards, and witnessing the construction of massive vessels. He understood that England’s strength came from its ability to organize resources effectively and modernize its military. The greatness of England was vividly in his mind, and this understanding weighed heavily on him as he compared Japan’s outdated weapons and ships to the might of the British fleet.

The realization that Japan was vulnerable troubled Ido. He had read reports about the British Parliament debating whether to send an expedition to Japan in retaliation for an attack on a foreign ship. The idea of England’s powerful navy descending on his homeland filled him with concern. Ido knew that if such a conflict came to pass, Japan would be completely outmatched.

Ido and his companions made the difficult decision to return home early, driven by the belief that Japan could not continue with its isolationist policies. Their experiences in London solidified their resolve to push for change, even if it meant going against deeply ingrained traditions. Upon their return to Japan, they found a nation on the edge of collapse. The tension between those who sought to preserve isolation and those pushing for modernization had reached its peak.

People were preparing for conflict, believing that violence was the only way to protect Japan’s sovereignty. Men and women alike were armed, ready to defend their way of life. The streets were filled with people holding long lances and dressed in a manner that allowed them to move freely, ready for battle at any moment. Ido and his companions, still wearing their European clothing and sporting their foreign hairstyles, stood out upon their return.

It wasn’t just their appearance that caused discomfort; their ideas, shaped by their time abroad, were also met with suspicion. The public saw them as potential traitors who had been corrupted by foreign influence. However, Ido had friends in high places. One of them, the governor Matari, helped him and his companions regain their samurai attire and transform back into the traditional image expected of Japanese leaders.

Soon after their return, Ido and his group made their way to Yamaguchi to meet with the daimyo. They were determined to convince him that Japan could not win a war with the West using outdated weapons and strategies. In the presence of the daimyo and his ministers, they spoke for nearly four hours about the greatness of European civilization. They brought maps and shared their experiences from Europe, explaining how Western nations operated and the size of their warships.

The 18 warships anchored in Yokohama Harbor had the intention of bombarding Japan in a few days, illustrating the gravity of the situation. The argument centered around one crucial point: Japan had to centralize power under the emperor and move away from the fragmented feudal system that left the country vulnerable. If Japan didn’t unite under one strong government, they believed the nation would be destroyed by foreign forces.

Ido’s group pushed for the restoration of imperial power, seeing it as the only way to navigate the challenges posed by foreign intervention. However, the stakes were incredibly high. Those who still believed in isolation viewed these ideas with deep suspicion, leading to growing hostility. Despite the long and intense discussions, the leadership was torn, and the uncertainty of how to proceed left the country in turmoil.

After presenting their case to the daimyo and his ministers, Ido and his companions found themselves in a perilous situation. Their call for modernization and the restoration of imperial power made them enemies of those still committed to keeping Japan isolated. Ido recalled how some members of the leadership blamed him and his group for the sudden shift in policy discussions.

The guards suspected that Ido and his friends had brought foreign influence into the inner workings of the clan and decided to act. The guards had a suspicion that Ido and his friend were responsible for the change of policy. This suspicion led to a plot to assassinate them. Faced with the threat of death, his friend proposed that they take matters into their own hands, arguing that it would be better to die by their own hand than at the hands of an assassin.

However, Ido urged patience. He believed it would be better to await the assassins if they were to come. The situation was tense, and Ido knew their fate was uncertain, yet he preferred to face whatever came rather than take his own life prematurely. Fortunately, before any violence could occur, the clan leadership intervened, and the assassination plot was called off.

Despite surviving this immediate threat, the underlying tension in Japan continued. It was clear that the country was divided; some were still clinging to the old ways, while others recognized the need for change. The Tokugawa shogunate had been ruling for centuries but was beginning to lose its grip on power. Ido knew that Japan couldn’t hold on to its feudal structure and isolationist policies for much longer.

The general opinion of the people of Japan could not be reached, he said, reflecting on the fractured state of the country. Soon, the Tokugawa shogunate would face its own downfall. The leadership had been weakened by 300 years of internal peace and was unable to handle the pressures from foreign powers. The Meiji Restoration would ensue, and the shogunate would be no more.

Ido’s efforts to restore imperial power were finally beginning to take hold, but the process was far from smooth. Assassination threats, political debates, and the unrest of the people were all part of the turbulent path Japan would take as it moved from its feudal past into a modern future. The events that followed marked the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate and the old feudal system. The Tokugawa regime had ruled Japan for over 250 years, maintaining peace through strict control and isolation.

By the mid-19th century, this system was no longer capable of handling the pressures from both within Japan and abroad. As Ido noted, the Tokugawa regime was a result of 300 years of tranquility and a dream of eternal peace. The once-powerful samurai class had lost much of its vigor. The shogun, once the most powerful man in Japan, found himself increasingly outmatched by foreign powers and internal dissent.

Faced with these overwhelming challenges, the shogun was left with no choice but to relinquish power. At last, a shogun was obliged to go to Kyoto and hand over all power to the emperor. Ido said this marked the beginning of the Meiji Restoration. Imperial power was restored, and Japan officially opened its doors to the world. The old samurai system, which had defined Japanese society for centuries, was dismantled. Ido and others like him played a crucial role in shaping this new era, advocating for modernization and reform.