In 1871, an ambassador was formed headed by Tomomi Iwakura.
Participating in the delegation were Toshimichi Okubo, Takayoshi Kido, Hirobumi Ito 46 envoys, 18 attendants, 43 international students It was a large family of 107 people in all.
Influential people from the feudal clan were appointed as ambassadors and deputy ambassadors, and influential human resources such as former bakushin who were familiar with international affairs were accompanied. The average age of the mission was 30 years old, which was a very young mission.
Formation of Iwakura Mission
The reason why the newly established government has sent so many government leaders to the world ...
- Survey of Western Culture
- Visit each country that has a treaty and submit a national letter to the head of state
- Preliminary negotiations for revision of inequality treaties signed with other countries in the late Edo period
The Meiji government amended unequal treaties with other countries signed at the end of the Edo period. Most important issue It seems that he wanted to start the treaty revision even if he sent out half of the government's influential people.
The delegation will first head to the United States, its largest friend since the end of the Edo period, to negotiate a revision of the unequal treaty it has signed. However, power of attorney Japan's hope was not accepted because it was pointed out that it was not ready for diplomatic etiquette.
Such Japan Lack of knowledge of international negotiations The delegation, whose negotiations were unacceptable due to deficiencies due to the above, gave up the treaty revision negotiations early and conducted another purpose, a tour of Western culture.
Cross the Atlantic Ocean, UK, France, Germany, Italy Visit European countries such as. By seeing the modern systems and civilizations of Europe, I realized that modernization is indispensable for Japan to stand side by side with Western countries.
At the beginning, the delegation was accompanied by international students, who were selected from children of the Chinese and samurai tribes. These international students were active as leaders in various places after returning to Japan.
Results of the inspection and its effects
The two-year round-the-world trip by the Iwakura Mission had a major impact on Japan's modernization policy.
On the political front, [ Iron-Blooded Minister 】 Prussia (Germany) Bismarck I was greatly influenced by. Bismarck, Okubo, and Ito are said to have met, saying that a powerful dictatorship of monarchy is necessary to counter the great powers of the Western powers and maintain their independence.
Okubo, who returned to Japan, was influenced by it 1873 . The Ministry of Interior was founded in Japan, and he began to act dictatorially. I mentioned the Ministry of Interior a little in the article on the breeding industry.
On the economic front, I was greatly shocked by the state of the capitalist large industry centered on iron and coal that I visited in London. The Meiji government had set up a wealthy soldier and a breeding industry, but after returning to Japan, Okubo and his colleagues will not only promote the government-led breeding industry, but also recommend and protect and nurture the private sector.
It was an unusual situation in which the top of the government left Japan for two years to travel abroad, but the impact was great, and it goes without saying that it paved the way for Japan's modernization.
On the other hand, Sanjo Sanetomi, Saigo Takamori, Itagaki Taisuke, Eto Shinpei who were away from home. Et al. Disagreement with the absence government Has begun to occur. In order to promote modernization, the absence government will strengthen the theory of sending troops to Korea against the foreign troupe, which says that it will first increase its national power.
This discord caused the Seikanron dispute that temporarily returned Okubo and other foreigners. It appeared as, and involved the government in a whirlpool of turmoil.