New History Textbook (Chapter 4 & 5) 2005 version - Bakumatsu Films

Western art that was inundating Japan. It was also a time when they thought deeply about the
meaning of traditional Japanese culture.
When the phrase “civilization and enlightenment” was prevalent, there was a tendency to worship
Western ways to the point of believing that traditional Japanese artworks and Buddhist statues were
of no value. But Ernest Fenollosa, an American professor who taught at Tokyo University, was
captivated by Japanese art. Thanks to his determination and that of his colleague Okakura Tenshin,
Fenollosa’s efforts to preserve and revive traditional Japanese art led to a new appreciation of its
merit. Okakura was mentor to Kano Hogai and other artists struggling to breathe new life into
Nihonga (Japanese-style painting).
In the genre of Western-style painting, Takahashi Yuichi and Asai Chu attempted to create realistic
oil paintings. Kuroda Seiki studied in France; after he returned to Japan, his canvases abounded
with light, bright colors. Sculptors like Takamura Koun worked in wood, crafting realistic pieces.
The importation of Western musical instruments resulted in the incorporation of singing (of songs
mostly based on Western melodies) into the elementary school curriculum, which became
immensely popular. Songs like “Kojo no tsuki” (Moonlight on the ruined castle) and “Hana”
(Flowers), composed by Taki Rentaro, captured the hearts of the nation.
Tsuda Umeko
First Female Exchange Student from Japan
In 1871, a large group of travelers (the 110-member Iwakura Mission) sailed for the U.S. from
Yokohama. Sixty of the 110 were exchange students, five of whom were Japan’s first female
exchange students. One of the girls, Tsuda Umeko (1864-1929), was about to celebrate her seventh
birthday. On her shoulders she bore a heavy burden: her destiny was to become the model that
would define the new Japanese woman.
In the U.S., Umeko stayed with an American family who lived in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Her host family showered her with love. She studied a wide range of subjects (among them English,
French, mathematics, physics and music). Umeko’s grades were always excellent. One
commencement day, she played the piano in front of the guest of honor, the First Lady.
A Homecoming Fraught with Problems
After spending 11 years in the U.S., Umeko returned to Japan at the age of 17, together with her
friend Yamakawa Sutematsu (another of the five female exchange students). In her heart she
harbored a secret desire — to found a girls’ school where she could share the knowledge that she
had acquired in the U.S.
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