Final answer:
The Meiji Restoration exemplified cultural diffusion through Japan's rapid adoption and assimilation of Western technology, industry practices, and art. This period of modernization was Japan's strategy to prevent colonial subjugation and involved both learning from the West and the renaissance of traditional Japanese cultural forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Meiji Restoration is a prime example of cultural diffusion as Japan actively assimilated and adopted Western technology, industry, and even art forms during the second half of the nineteenth century. During this period, Japanese society was rapidly transformed through modernization efforts spearheaded by Emperor Meiji and his leadership. They sought to make Japan comparable to Western powers to avoid the threat of colonization. Key steps included sending Japanese scholars abroad to learn Western ways and inviting Western experts to Japan to aid in modernization efforts. Japan’s modern armed forces and the push for industrialization reflect the impact of these changes. Moreover, the art styles of Yōga and Nihonga represent the blending and then a revival of Japanese traditional aesthetics in response to Western influence. The Meiji Restoration demonstrated Japan’s proactive approach to adaptation and influence, key components of cultural diffusion.