What did the meiji reformers want to retain despite their quest for modernization?

The Meiji period is one of the most important eras of Japanese history. It is the time when Japan quickly modernized, industrialized and caught up with Western powers. The reformers wanted to learn the best lessons to build a modern and effective public administration and economy, but retaining the most important features of the Japanese character and national soul, those unique things that make up Japaneseness. As it had done for many previous centuries when Japan took cultural and civilizational models from China, it absorbed many useful elements while retaining unique Japanese elements despite Westernization.

Explanation:

during world war ii                                                      

the british they shot them