- Japan underwent rapid modernization after the Meiji Restoration, establishing a parliamentary body called the Imperial Diet. - Politically, the emperor is the head of state but citizens have limited participation rights. Society emphasizes hierarchy, group loyalty and conformity. - Post-war, Japanese politics revolves around strong political parties and factions. Major parties today include the Liberal Democratic Party and Democratic Party. - New theories explain how industrialized societies see changes in public political attitudes and participation as citizens seek more involvement in policy.

1. Japanese Political
Culture

2. • Japan was the first non-Western
nation to undergo modernization
and has risen to be an economic
superpower.

3. Meiji Restoration
• Meiji Constitution (1890)
• Imperial Diet

4. Imperial Diet
• Oldest parliamentary body in Asia
• Bicameral legislative body
• House of Peers
• House of Representatives

5. Emperor
• Head of state
• Sovereign
• Divine ancestry
Emperor Meiji. ©
Wikimedia Commons.

6. People
• No sovereign power
• Restricted political participation
• Limited voting right
• Strict rules on political participation
not many of the citizens are
interested in politics

7. Post-war political culture
• Social relations are based on
hierarchy.
• Group – oriented
• Subservience to authority
• conformism and group loyalty

8. Group-oriented values in
Japanese politics
• Japanese politics revolve around
strong political parties and
factions.

9. Japanese political parties
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Democratic Party
Japan Restoration Party
New Komeito Party
Your Party

10. New Political Culture
• Clark and Inglehart
• explains the changes in political
attitudes and actions of the public in
advance industrialized societies.

11. Major factors that caused
change in political culture in
Japan
Social

12. New Political Culture
HOSHU
KAKUSHIN
conservative
reformist & progressive

13. New Political Culture
Hoshu Kakushin
prewar regime
rearmament of Japan
anti prewar regime
Opposition to the
rearmament of Japan
small governments market
economy economic
development.
big governments
equality participation
Before
After

14. New Political Culture
• NPC citizens refuse to be treated as “clients”
of parties or the government
they have more personal resources
(education, income, communication skill, etc.).
• They are more active in joining issue-
specific organizations and seeking
participation in general policy formation

15. The End.