For over two centuries Japan had been closed to all foreigners until American warships forced Japan, in 1854, to open her ports to foreign trade.
The infuriated Japanese blamed the Tokugawa shogun - the military leader who had ruled Japan in place of the emperor - for the humiliation. (The Tokugawa line of shoguns had ruled Japan for 250 years and had enforced the seclusion of Japan.)
In 1867 the shogun was forced to resign and Emperor Mutsuhito announced that he had taken his traditional powers back from the shogun. The Emperor moved the capital from ancient Kyoto to Edo, which he renamed Tokyo and he assumed the name Meji meaning "enlightened rule".
During the Meji period (1868 -1912) the feudal system was abolished, and Western ideas and business contacts gained wide acceptance. The abolition of pensions to the samurai and of the ancient code of the sword led to the samurai uprising in 1877. Following its defeat the samurai caste disintegrated.
In the newly established parliament (1878) the military party began to reject European influence; it considered expansion to the continent of Asia more important than social and economic reforms. This led in 1894 to the Sino-Japanese war, when the superior Japanese forces conquered Dairen, Shantung, and Seoul. China ceded Formosa to the Japanese, and after the successful Russo-Japanese war Japan occupied Korea.
Reform and modernization
underwent political reform and economic expansion.
Emperor Meiji brought imperial rule back to Japan, in a period known as the Meiji Ishin.
The Meiji Restoration took place in Japan.
his name was Mutsuhito now known as the Meiji emperor
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They both promoted reform and modernization
Reform and modernization
They adopted the German model for a government.
underwent political reform and economic expansion.
Sumio Yoshida has written: 'Kokuji mondai ronshu' -- subject(s): Japanese language, Reform 'Meiji iko kokuji mondai shoan shusei' -- subject(s): Japanese language, Reform
Meiji Hashimoto has written: 'Hashimoto Meiji' 'Hashimoto Meiji jisen ten' -- subject(s): Exhibitions
Emperor Meiji brought imperial rule back to Japan, in a period known as the Meiji Ishin.
Meiji Mura was created in 1965.
Meiji University was created in 1881.
Meiji Castle is one of Japan's most recognizable medieval structures. It was built and later restored from the Meiji Restoration.
The importance of Emperor Meiji on Shintoism was tradition and education. Emperor Meiji has very little power.