109

Bundle 109: Meiji Era: Economic Upheaval

As this bundle shows, the Meiji era (1868–1912) plunged the Japanese economy into turmoil. The government disbanded feudal domains, leaving many samurai unemployed. In response, the government provided them with work—a land reclamation project. Silkworms also saved the day! Raw silk accounted for 70 percent of Japan's exports, generating money that enabled the Japanese to buy machines. As the country rapidly industrialized and developed a capitalist economy, feudal workers became wage laborers, gaining freedom and power thanks to their earnings. But these changes also brought tumult to the country in the form of labor disputes, strikes, and riots.
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墾
groundbreaking
JOK: 1281
Japan wouldn't be what it is if people hadn't labored to cultivate the land, making it suitable for agriculture and human habitation. Learn how the Japanese use 墾 to represent that major effort, and find out how to combine 墾 with just a few common kanji so you can talk about lands both tamed and wild. Find out how one term can mean both "cultivated land" and its opposite.
桑
mulberry
JOK: 1518
The Japanese have found uses for every part of the mulberry - the fruit, leaves, wood, bark, and roots. In Japan, mulberries have been so important that some maps mark mulberry fields. Aside from its mulberry connections, 桑 factors into the names of several significant places, including San Francisco and Japan itself! Our kanji also pops up in surprising sayings and a famous bit of wordplay.
拓
clear the way
JOK: 1554
This kanji embodies the spirit of visionaries who see possibilities, people who want to carve out the future, and pioneers who blaze mountain trails, develop land that’s under the sea, and grow olives on Shodoshima. Learn to say, “He devoted half of his life to developing Hokkaido,” “We have to find a new market for these products,” and even “I haven't tried restaurants around here.”
罷
quit
JOK: 1732
This kanji can be tough to remember, so the essay presents mnemonics for two yomi and the main meaning of 罷. Learn about the history of strikes in Japan and see how young people now perceive them. Find out how to say that a politician got the sack, British coalminers went on strike, and someone got away with something. Also learn to speculate about worst-case scenarios.
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