Final Answer:
Many Japanese traditionalists viewed the Rokumeikan, a Western-style pleasure palace and dance hall built in the 1880s, with disdain. They considered it a symbol of Western influence and modernization, viewing it as a threat to traditional Japanese culture and values.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Rokumeikan, constructed during the Meiji era, represented the government's efforts to embrace Westernization and demonstrate Japan's modernization to the world. However, traditionalists, often rooted in samurai or conservative circles, perceived these changes as a betrayal of Japan's cultural heritage. The Rokumeikan, with its Western architecture and entertainment, became a focal point for their discontent.
These traditionalists were nostalgic for the Edo period and felt that the influx of Western ideas and lifestyles, as exemplified by the Rokumeikan, undermined Japan's unique identity. They believed that such Western-style establishments threatened traditional Japanese values, including social hierarchy and cultural practices. The clash between modernization and tradition during the Meiji era led to social and cultural tensions, with traditionalists expressing their resistance through criticism of symbols like the Rokumeikan.
In summary, the negative perception of the Rokumeikan by Japanese traditionalists reflects the broader ideological struggle during the Meiji period, as Japan underwent significant transformations in its attempt to modernize and engage with the Western world. The clash between tradition and modernity shaped the cultural landscape of Japan during this pivotal era.