19th Century Germany and Modern Japan

[greg]

Does anyone feel some sort of similarity when you think of those two?
It's not something I can describe in words, but if I had to guess why, it would be that it just seems like my impressions of those cultures paint the picture of them being the most "human"- and in "human", I mean less "animal" and more "man"- or should I say, the thinking man.

Think of something like the Beethoven symphonies, the Wagner operas and the work by Kant and Schopenhauer. Then think of the technology of Japan. Maybe someone can explain better why I sense a similarity here even though I can't really explain it? 

(anyone else sense the same thing?)

[drogulus]

Does anyone feel some sort of similarity when you think of those two?
It's not something I can describe in words, but if I had to guess why, it would be that it just seems like my impressions of those cultures paint the picture of them being the most "human"- and in "human", I mean less "animal" and more "man"- or should I say, the thinking man.

Think of something like the Beethoven symphonies, the Wagner operas and the work by Kant and Schopenhauer. Then think of the technology of Japan. Maybe someone can explain better why I sense a similarity here even though I can't really explain it? 

(anyone else sense the same thing?)

      Both nations emerged suddenly as major powers in the late 19th century, Germany a bit earlier with wars against first Austria and then France. Japan fought China in 1895 and the sent shockwaves around the world by defeating Russia and destroying the Russian fleet in 1904. When new nations embark on conquests it has meaning far beyond the purely military aspects. One senses a tremendous ambition to excel in many ways. There's an obvious parallel with another new nation that took the world stage in the years between 1860 and 1900, the United States.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Not that I know a vast amount about this topic, but I've read that post-Meiji Restoration Japan deliberately modeled itself on Germany, the rising European power at the time.

Apparently, numerous details of Japanese life testify to this, down to the little sailor uniforms in Japanese boys' schools (based on German originals).

This was also the time when Japan started to get interested in Western classical music, apparently due to the same impulse.

[greg]

      Both nations emerged suddenly as major powers in the late 19th century, Germany a bit earlier with wars against first Austria and then France. Japan fought China in 1895 and the sent shockwaves around the world by defeating Russia and destroying the Russian fleet in 1904. When new nations embark on conquests it has meaning far beyond the purely military aspects. One senses a tremendous ambition to excel in many ways. There's an obvious parallel with another new nation that took the world stage in the years between 1860 and 1900, the United States.

I was going to add in there the U.S., especially during the early 20th century with all of its inventions and advances in technology (too many to count).

"One senses a tremendous ambition to excel in many ways."- I like that. I guess that's pretty much the underlining similarity...

Not that I know a vast amount about this topic, but I've read that post-Meiji Restoration Japan deliberately modeled itself on Germany, the rising European power at the time.

Apparently, numerous details of Japanese life testify to this, down to the little sailor uniforms in Japanese boys' schools (based on German originals).

This was also the time when Japan started to get interested in Western classical music, apparently due to the same impulse.

Wow, I didn't know that. 
Thanks for the info.