The Meiji Restoration
A 44 year period of great change in Japan
• 1868 - 1912
• Japan changes from an agrarian, feudal,
isolated and militarily weak country to an
industrialized, constitutional, world
economic and military power
• Japan adopts many aspects of Western
culture
Prompted by Japanese fear of foreign
domination
• Isolation had become impossible
• European power demonstrated in China
Led by an oligarchy of the “Young Samurai” who had defeated the Tokugawa shogunate
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The Charter Oath
In 1868, 15 year old Meiji issued the Imperial
Oath of Five Articles (a/k/a The Charter Oath) in
which he committed Japan to a course of
modernization
The Charter Oath promised:
• Public input into governmental decisions
• A voice in government for all classes
• Freedom of vocation
• Enlightened government under Natural law
• A global quest for knowledge
This was followed in 1869 by a decree that all
feudal lords must give up their land and
associated powers
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Building a Modern Economy
Industrialization became a key aim of the Meiji period - “Rich country; strong military”
was a popular slogan
Special support and sponsorship went to
strategic industries on which modern military
power depended: heavy industry, engineering,
mining, railroads, and shipbuilding
To further industrialization/modernization
• Foreign experts were hired to train/help
• Bright students were sent abroad
• Banks were set up
• The Yen was introduced and currency
stabilized
A new class of industrialists called “zaibatsu” developed
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Unhappy Samurai
As the government modernized it took
power and prestige from the Samurai
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Feudal hierarchy replaced by new
social classes (nobles, landowners,
commoners)
Wearing of swords and topknots
optional
Wearing of swords in public later
banned
Commoners drafted into military
Satsuma Rebellion of 1877
• 30,000 ex-Samurai led by Saigo
Takamori
• Lasted 6 months
• The government and its conscription
army eventually won
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West Mania
During the first 20 years of the Meiji
Restoration the Japanese developed a
fascination with all things Western
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Fashion
Hairstyles
Meat eating
Entertainment
Ballroom Dancing
Many Japanese writers and intellectuals
rejected the value of traditional Japanese
culture and were embarrassed by it
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Changes in Education
In 1871 Meiji established a Ministry of
Education to provide education to all
people regardless of their social class or
gender
Schools and universities were set up
By 1910 98% of all Japanese children
were receiving a mandatory education
In 1890 the Meiji “Rescript on Education”
was introduced. It stressed the importance
of harmony, obeying the laws, and loyalty
to the emperor
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A Real Constitution?
In spite of the Constitution of 1868, during the Meiji period Japan was governed by an
oligarchy
However a group of ex-Samurai and
commoners formed the Freedom and
People’s Rights Movement and began
calling for a elected representatives
Under pressure from such voices, a new
Constitution was adopted in 1889
• Based on the German/Prussian model
• Emperor retained absolute power
• House of Peers (appointed, wealthy)
• House of Representatives (elected
every 4 years)
However, only 1% of the population actually had the right to vote - no women, and only
qualified tax payers
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