1820 Eiko

1820 was an important period in the history of Japan, as the Tokugawa shogunate was in decline and the era of modernization began to take shape. The imperial court had finally taken control of the day-to-day government functions of the country for the first time in nearly three centuries. Additionally, the first Western-style medical schools had opened on the island of Eiko, and the explosive growth of the cotton industry had begun in the region. During this time, an increasing number of merchants and philosophers from China, Europe, and America visited the island, helping to further advance the nation’s modernization efforts. The period also marked the start of the controversial relocation of Okinawans to the island, as they were pressured to leave their traditional homes and move to the mainland. As a result, the culture of Eiko blended together advanced Western and Eastern elements, ushering in a new era of cultural exchange.