Foundations of Climate Change Resilience: Lessons From Tokugawa Japan

During the 17th century, much of the world experienced the General Crisis: a period in which sudden climate change in the form of the Little Ice Age led to agricultural disruption, famine, and political upheaval. However, during that time, Japan’s resilience in mitigating the negative effects of the Little Ice Age allowed it to avoid the General Crisis. Historians have focused on many aspects of Japanese culture to explain Japan’s success in achieving such resilience. Building on their work, this paper proposes that a confluence of three overarching factors created Japan’s ability to thrive during the 17th century: the extended peace enjoyed by Japan during this period; the intricate dualities of governance existing within its political system; and a social structure heavily defined by interdependence and collectivism. The lessons of Japan’s success suggest that the gradual evolution of modern efforts to combat global warming towards increasing leadership by sub-national entities and locally-focused solutions are on the right path.