"For Japan to overturn the unequal treaties, they had to Westernise and they Westernised their societal structures and processes"

In the 1880s, Japan started what many still believe in 2004 to be one of the most successful and indeed rapid transformations in history. Essentially, Japan was revolutionised from a small closed-economy state to one that would be an industrial powerhouse. Japan overtook its former "uncle" China to become the major power within the Asian region. Much of this power and success, according to many, was brought about by Japan's willingness to Westernise in order to …

…the Japanese being willing to Westernise, they did not believe that all Western principles should be followed and that many of Japan's traditional institutions were adequate and perhaps superior to those brought about by the West. Conclusion Many argue that Japan's spirit of Westernisation provided a firm basing for favourable diplomatic relations. Westernisation in Japan was an important change as it revolutionised a society that hadn't challenged the status quo in many hundreds of years.