The Early 1900s: How Japan Became Modern

Have you ever wonder how Japan changed so much, so fast? What did people eat, wear, and listen to when the 20th century began?

The years 1900 to 1910 were a time of huge change. This decade set the stage for the modern Japan we know today.

This period built on the Meiji Restoration, mixing old traditions with new ideas in a way that affected art, music, food, and how people lived.

If you want to understand modern Japanese culture, you need to look at this exciting decade.

Daily life: old ways meet new ideas

After the Meiji government took over, Japan began a rapid change. They kept what was important from the past while bringing in modern tools and systems.

A Learning Country

One of the biggest changes was in education. A school system was started nationwide, giving almost everyone a chance to learn. This meant:

• More people could read newspapers, books, and even foreign texts.

• New ideas spread fast, fueling curiosity about the world.

• People had more chances to move up in society.

• Growing Cities

  Cities like Tokyo and Osaka grew fast, becoming busy centers for shopping, business, and fun.

  
  

  • You'd see Western-style buildings right next to classic wooden houses.

  • Trams, shops, and cafés brought a new, fast rhythm to city life.

  • These places became a symbol of Japan's modern look.

Mitsubishi and Japan’s Industrial Rise

Mitsubishi played a key role in Japan’s push toward modernization. What began as a shipping company grew into a powerful industrial group, building ships, mining coal, and supporting Japan’s expanding navy.

Its shipyards in Nagasaki produced advanced vessels during the Russo-Japanese War, while its coal mines on Hashima Island fueled factories and steam engines across the country.

Mitsubishi also began trading globally, bringing Western technology to Japan and exporting Japanese goods abroad. This decade marked the foundation of what would later become Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, making Mitsubishi one of the driving forces behind Japan’s transformation into a modern industrial nation.

Technological Advancements

Japan rapidly adopted Western technologies and adapted them to local needs, from railways and telegraph systems to modern shipbuilding and factories. Innovations in engineering, manufacturing, and urban infrastructure laid the groundwork for Japan’s industrial growth and global competitiveness, demonstrating how tradition and modernity could coexist in a forward-looking society.

Meiji Fashion: From Kimonos to Suits

The way people dressed became a clear sign of the changes happening.

The Meiji era was a turning point for Japanese fashion. Kimonos remained a symbol of tradition, culture, and daily life, while Western-style suits, dresses, and accessories started appearing in cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

This mix created a unique visual culture where old and new coexisted. People combined traditional clothing with Western touches, experimenting with fabrics, cuts, and styles. Fashion became a way to show status, modern thinking, and openness to global trends.

Women’s growing presence in schools and workplaces also influenced style, adding fresh energy to everyday looks.

People began mixing and matching, like wearing a kimono with a Western hat or shoes.

Art and Culture: Showing the World Japan's Creativity

Japanese art during this time was vibrant, looking to both the past and the future.

Nihonga Renaissance (Japanese Style Painting)

At the turn of the century, Japanese artists like Yokoyama Taikan revitalized traditional painting by blending classic techniques with contemporary ideas.

Nihonga, or Japanese-style painting, kept ancient materials and aesthetics alive while exploring new themes and expressions, creating works that resonated both at home and abroad.

Woodblock Prints

Ukiyo-e, the iconic woodblock prints of the Edo period, continued to captivate audiences worldwide. Artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet drew inspiration from these prints, sparking the Japonisme movement in Europe. This exchange highlighted Japan’s role as a cultural innovator and positioned its visual art as a bridge between East and West.

Japan on the World Stage

International expositions provided Japan with a platform to present its artistic heritage and modern creativity to a global audience.

From paintings to decorative arts, Japanese works challenged Western perceptions and became a symbol of the nation’s cultural sophistication and adaptability in a rapidly changing world.

Music: A Fusion of East and West

When the Koto Met the Piano: A Musical Revolution

• Traditional Music

Instruments like the koto, shamisen, and shakuhachi remained central to Japanese life, used in both ceremonial settings and everyday entertainment.

Court music (gagaku) continued to be performed at temples and shrines, while folk songs echoed through villages, preserving centuries of cultural heritage.

• New Sounds

Western classical music started to shape urban concert halls, schools, and new compositions.

Composers like Kosaku Yamada began blending piano, violin, and Western harmonies with traditional Japanese scales and instruments.

Ensembles experimented with combining koto melodies with orchestral arrangements, giving rise to innovative genres that bridged East and West.

Schools introduced music education using both Western scores and Japanese folk tunes, laying the foundation for Japan’s modern musical identity.

Food & Drinks: The Evolution of Japanese Cuisine

Omurice and the Birth of Yoshoku Cuisine

Western-inspired Japanese dishes, also known as yoshoku, became a staple of urban dining.

Favorites like omurice (omelet + rice), korokke (croquettes), and curry rice brought new flavors to Japanese plates while being adapted to local tastes.

Restaurants and cafés in cities like Tokyo and Yokohama popularized these dishes, blending Western techniques with Japanese presentation, creating comfort food that felt both exotic and familiar.

Tea Culture

The traditional tea ceremony continued to anchor daily life, emphasizing harmony, mindfulness, and etiquette. Even in rapidly modernizing cities, tea rooms and gatherings remained spaces for reflection, socializing, and cultural continuity. Practices like matcha preparation and seasonal tea gatherings showcased how Japan balanced fast-paced urban life with timeless rituals.

Street Food Life

Urbanization and industrial growth fueled demand for quick, affordable meals. Vendors sold yakitori (grilled skewers), takoyaki (octopus balls), taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries), and nikuman (steamed meat buns), creating lively street food culture.

These stalls not only fed workers but also became hubs of social interaction, setting the stage for today’s thriving Japanese street food scene.

Popular Beers of Meiji Japan

During the Meiji era, Japan was becoming more modern and that included beer. Around 1900, several Japanese breweries began making their own styles of beer, and people all over the country started to enjoy it.

In Hokkaido, Sapporo Beer (started in 1876) was one of the first, known for its clean, rich flavor made with help from German brewing experts. In Tokyo, Yebisu Beer (1890) became popular among city people who wanted something smooth and special to drink.

Over in Osaka, Asahi Beer (1889) was known for being light and easy to enjoy, perfect for Japan’s growing modern cities. And in Yokohama, Kirin Beer (1888) mixed European brewing skills with Japanese creativity, showing the country’s new global spirit.

By the early 1900s, these four brands: Sapporo, Yebisu, Asahi, and Kirin - had become the most famous beers in Japan, marking the true beginning of Japan’s beer culture.

Sapporo Beer (サッポロビール) Founded: 1876 in Sapporo, Hokkaido Founder: Seibei Nakagawa, Japan’s first trained brewmaster (studied in Germany) Brewery: Kaitakushi Brewery (the government’s development project in Hokkaido) Flavor: German-style lager — crisp, malty, and modeled on Bavarian methods Popularity: Became the standard beer of the north and a symbol of modern craftsmanship	Yebisu (Ebisu) Beer (ヱビスビール) Founded: 1890 in Tokyo by Japan Beer Brewery Company Distinctive Point: Premium “all-malt” beer brewed with imported German ingredients Image: Urban, upscale, and associated with Western-style cafés and Ginza culture By 1900: Already popular among Tokyo’s middle and upper class
Asahi Beer (アサヒビール) Founded: 1889 by Osaka Beer Brewing Company Flavor: Light and refreshing, modeled after pilsners Appeal: Marketed as “a beer for the modern Japanese”, representing Osaka’s industrial rise By 1900: One of the most widely distributed brands in the Kansai region	Kirin Beer (キリンビール) Founded: 1888 (originating from the earlier Spring Valley Brewery, 1869) Location: Yokohama — one of Japan’s first international ports Brewmaster: German brewer Emil Wiegand Style: European lager; early marketing targeted both foreigners and Japanese elites Popularity: The choice of cosmopolitan Yokohama and Tokyo drinkers

Global Influence: Japan on the World Stage

Cultural Exchange

At the turn of the 20th century, Japanese art, design, and fashion captured global attention. The Japonisme movement in Europe saw artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh inspired by ukiyo-e prints, while decorative arts, kimono patterns, and ceramics influenced Western interiors and fashion.

Japan’s aesthetic became a symbol of elegance, minimalism, and innovation in the international cultural scene.

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This incredible transformation showed the world a country that could honor its deep history while confidently stepping into the future. By understanding this foundation, you can better appreciate the richness of Japanese culture today.