So I was looking at some cool maps of Japan from the Tokugawa and was wondering what would Japan, and history, look like if there had been no Meiji Restoration? I imagine Korean independence would be possible.
So what does this mean for Japan? Could it end up an out and out European colony? Does a weaker Japan make it more likely the Qing would be able to make their last minute reforms work a little better than Otl? I read somewhere that the only reason we see the Meiji restoration as inherently better than Qing reforms is that Japan won the Sino Japanese war and China didn’tDepends on exactly why the Meiji restoration didn't happen...
Remember, the Meiji Restoration was a series of fairly unlikely events that somehow beat the long odds and didn't implode, and there is almost as many facets that could singularly change it into a failed project as there were moving parts
Japan could wholesale have bought into a certain ideology, instead of cherry-picking, with absolutely no loyality towards any single one (other than a dislike towards the more socialistic bends, which makes sense when you consider that it was an oligarchy replacing an aristocracy), the American south could have dodged the Boll Weevil cotton plague, leaving Japan unable to unload their silk and cotton industry at worthwhile prices, any of the attempted revolts and/or riots could have gotten even more out of hand (or more effectively supported by anti-japanese elements)
So what does this mean for Japan? Could it end up an out and out European colony? Does a weaker Japan make it more likely the Qing would be able to make their last minute reforms work a little better than Otl? I read somewhere that the only reason we see the Meiji restoration as inherently better than Qing reforms is that Japan won the Sino Japanese war and China didn’t