The Meiji Restoration was a period of political, economic, and social change in Japan that lasted from 1868 to 1912. The period marked the end of the feudal system and the beginning of modern Japan, characterized by significant changes in all aspects of Japanese society, including the political, economic, and social structures. In 1868, the Tokugawa Shogunate was overthrown, and the Meiji Emperor was restored to power. This restoration marked the end of Japan’s feudal era and the beginning of a new era of modernization and westernization. The Meiji government adopted a policy of centralization, which helped create a strong, centralized state and modernized the country’s economic and military systems.

One of the most significant changes during the Meiji period was the adoption of a constitutional government. In 1889, the Meiji government instated a constitution that established a parliamentary system of government. This new system, which was based on the Prussian model, allowed for the separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. In terms of economics, the Meiji government opted for a policy of industrialization and modernization. Japan’s economy was transformed from one based on agriculture to a modern, industrial one. The government encouraged foreign investment and imported technology to help spur economic growth.