Over the course of history, the Japanese have not come to terms with their own identity. However, if we go back after the Meiji Restoration, we can see a significant turning point, a moment when Japanese people began to realize that they were "Japanese".
The Meiji Restoration marked a crucial step in Japan's transition from the closed shogunate era to modernization. During this period, Japan ushered in large-scale changes, from politics, economy, and social structure to earth-shaking changes. The most notable of these is the government's modernization and Westernization campaign. This movement has promoted intellectual and intellectual innovation in various fields, and has also profoundly influenced the perception of Japanese identity.
During the shogunate period, Japan's social structure was bound by a strict hierarchy, and identity was more related to family, occupation, or region. However, as modernization progressed, the Japanese began to face more complex identity issues. They are no longer just members of a family, nor are they limited to a particular profession or geography. Instead, they begin to realize that they share a common culture, history, and values as a whole, as part of a nation.
This shift in consciousness did not happen overnight. It was gradually formed in the process of contact, absorption, and confrontation with Western culture. Through studying and comparing Western cultures, Japanese people began to realize how different they were from Westerners and began to think about their uniqueness. At the same time, the Japanese government has further promoted the formation of this perception by strengthening the shaping of national identity through education and propaganda activities, emphasizing the uniqueness and superiority of Japanese culture.
Therefore, it can be said that after the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese began to gradually realize that they were "Japanese". This is not only a change in identity, but also an important sign of Japan's modernization and internationalization. The formation of this consciousness has not only influenced the perception of Japanese people about themselves, but also their perception of the world, and shaped the image of Japan as a country and nation.