Self-Respect and Independence of Mind

Self-Respect and Independence of Mind: The Challenge of Fukuzawa Yukichi

It is said that Japan is currently experiencing its third opening to the outside world. However, in terms of importance, rather than the so-called second opening-which refers to the reforms following World War II-the more significant opening was that of the Meiji Restoration, initiated and carried out by the Japanese themselves. Consequently, as Japan today finds itself feeling trapped with a sense of despair, it is to the Meiji era that we should turn, and more than to anyone else, the person we should turn to is Fukuzawa Yukichi.