An exercise in good government: Fukuzawa Yukichi on emigration and nation-building

Abstract

Fukuzawa Yukichi penned a series of articles from 1884 to 1896 on why the Japanese must emigrate and settle abroad. Most striking is Fukuzawa\u27s opposition to any legislation preventing the movement of Japanese subjects abroad, including rural women who migrated with the purpose of engaging in prostitution abroad. According to Fukuzawa, the challenge facing Japanese government policy makers was not at what point do you say &quot;no&quot; to poor rural women migrating abroad, but the opposite, at what point should you say &quot;yes.&quot;<br /