Investigating Japan's Cultural Exchange with the West

Japan has had a long intertwined history with western culture, leading to a unique mix of eastern and western ideals which inform and shape the culture of modern Japan. How has this exchange specifically impacted Japanese art, music, and literature from the eighteenth century up until now? What has been the result of this intermixing of cultures and how has it evolved over time? These are some of the questions we will be exploring in this article.

The first large influx of western culture into Japan began in the eighteenth century with the Matsudaira Domain, which was run by a succession of lords who wished for Japan to modernize and imitate many of the advancements of Europe. Of course, it wasn't a one-way street, and westerners who visited or lived in Japan during this period were exposed to the local art, literature, and music of the country, much of which was incredibly unique and different from traditional western practices.

From the late eighteenth century to the early nineteenth century, the world opened up to the Japanese following the period of seclusion known as the Sakoku edict. This walling-off of the country was gradually relaxed due to efforts of the visiting western powers, which began to make official contacts with Japan.

During this period, the Japanese government was desperately trying to modernize the country as quickly as possible, and began to adopt many of the Western artistic practices alongside their traditional ones. This desire to copy European and American culture as accurately as possible was most evident in the architecture, where during the Meiji restoration an assortment of neoclassical, baroque, and other iconic western styles were included in government and private buildings.

The same was true for music, where Western composers were heavily studied and their works were mimicked by those seeking reform in Japan. Famous works such as Puccini’s Madame Butterfly or Rossini’s William Tell Overture became regular fixtures of the new Japanese musical scene as the late 19th century saw an embrace of western melodies, harmonies and classical traditions.

Meanwhile, in the world of literature, western concepts of romanticism, realism and humanism started to filter their way into classic stories such as the Tale of Genji, with authors like Ozaki Kōyō noting the influence of Western literature in terms of point of view and moral concepts.

One of the main results of this cultural exchange between the East and the West has been an increase of cross-cultural exchange, which has been evident in modern times especially. Bands like Spitz or Southern All Stars, for example, have emerged as a synthesis of traditional Japanese music and Western styles like rock, pop or alternative. The same can be said for visual arts, where the meeting of different concepts has resulted in new, visually stunning explorations of colour and form.
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In conclusion, the culture of modern Japan has been heavily influenced by its interactions with the West, encompassing both commonalities and differences. The art, literature, and music of Japan has evolved to incorporate western influences while retaining a unique sense of eastern flair, resulting in a unique and fascinating blend of the old and the new.
Redd F @ Unsplash