Political Science

The topic of the reading is the travel to China of the fifty one Japanese from different domains of Japan after the diplomatic ties of the two countries involved became formal. The main argument of the author is whether or not each Japanese sailor had self-interest on the voyage. In addition, various Japanese sailors were thinking of what they could give to the nation-state while they were in Shanghai, China. However, it was also evident that most of the sailors experienced problems while on travel. Some of them were sick and others find it hard to contribute to the nation-state they represent which is Japan. Another problem that besets the sailors is dying away from home. There were unlucky fishermen who died and as well as three Japanese who lost their lives because of dysentery. The cadavers of those who died during the trip were cremated because it is difficult to bring them back to Japan because of extreme heat. Moreover, there is a clarion call for the nation-state Japan brought about by the travel to Shanghai, China. The effects of expansionism must be viewed as a huge factor of Western assault. Without careful preparation on the part of Japan, the fate of China would also happen to the nation-state.

In addition, the author also exposed the fact that Japan does not have a modern centralized state during the 1850s. Besides, there was no national treasury, national army and national taxation. There is no appropriate structure of government that would make the country resemble others. Since there was no foreign ministry, the people who handled the foreign affairs were referred to as barbarians. This situation was changed when Japanese sailors reached Shanghai, China. They were able to learn many things in the country and were mindful of expansionism and the development of the nation-state.

Essentially, we can understand that there are dynamic changes because of the formal diplomatic ties between China and Japan. With that, the main question is Is there modernization involved in the process The radical changes in Japan might be explained in the process of modernization or even with Westernization. In the article, it was explained that due to the influences of countries like China, Korea, and even European countries, Japan was able to develop its structure of government. Later on, Japan had national taxation, national currency, banks, stocks, bonds, and commercial endeavors. Not all Japanese sailors may be successful of the trip to China, but it opened myriad possibilities for the country to have a glimpse of other countries and earn a single fame as nation-state called Japan.