How have fast changes which have occurred during the Meiji era transform the Japanese vision of the world?

Answer 1

Before the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese Shogunate had drastically kept the nation secluded from Western influences, but not all together clear of importation (trade with the Dutch and other East Asian countries still remained with controlled trading). Before and after the Meiji Restoration, members of the Emperor's advisers and other revolutionaries saw what had been taking place in China during the time, and did not want the same "invasion" from Western imperials and tradesmen trying to carve up Japan under foreign control.

The Japanese government new that the only way to secure its borders and lands was to transform the military and industry of the country from a feudal system of farming and agriculture, to a modern state of mass production. This led to the dissolution of the socioeconomic classes which made former samurai and farmers into equal citizens. This of course led to a failed rebellion led by (even though his purpose still remains arguable) Saigo Takamori and a band of former samurai from the Satsuma Province. Anyway, by the time this rebellion occurred, the government had initiated new military practices and quickly snuffed it out, showing the outright power of a new, modern military against its former counterparts.

Back to the question at hand...these rapid changes forced the Japanese people to accept that they weren't the most powerful people in the world (a patriotic belief that became ignited during its imperial ventures) but that by working as a nation together they could become on par with the Western powers. So the answer to the question is that the rapid changes that occurred during the Meiji Era transformed the Japanese vision of the world primarily because it showed them the world, and what it would take to rise to the top, above all other nations.