How Did The Meiji Restoration Affect Japan

This year is the 150-year anniversary of the Meiji Restoration (1868-1904) which was a big turning point for Japan in terms of industrialization and modernization for Japan on its path to become one the world's great powers. It is important to know what events led to the Meiji Restoration and how it changed the country during this period, from Japan being a closed country for over 200 years to the highly industrialized, modern state that it is today. There were many changes, but the most rapid growth was seen in economic development and militarization from 1868 to 1904 due to the political and social change caused in part by investing in Western cultures. The goal of the Meiji Restoration was to build a "rich country, strong army" and there

However, industrialization was a significant transformation and revealed rapid growth and alteration within the political system. One of the biggest changes was transforming from an agrarian society to an industrial society. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa Shogunate remained in power, and Japan was an agrarian society. However, due to modernization and the importation of cultures and technologies from the West, Japan transformed into an industrial society. For instance, the government introduced superior agricultural techniques and shifted to a more commercial form of agriculture. There are four main factors that lead Japan to successful rapid economic growth during the Meiji period. First, modern science and technology helped industry, transportation, and agriculture operate more efficiently. In 1872, the first railroad line was built through Tokyo to Yokohama. This made the transportation of people and goods more efficient. Second, there was a continuous and rapid rise of Real Product per Capita rates and population growth. Third was the rapid and efficient transformation of industrial structures such as agriculture and manufacturing. Lastly, Japan increased contact with other countries such as increased in trading and missions to other countries. Without these four main factors, Japan might not have been as successful during the Meiji period. Changing the educational system helped to grow the economy by producing many educated individuals. One of the most well-known people to change the Japanese educational system was Yukichi Fukuzawa. Fukuzawa's main contribution to the Japanese educational system was the rejection of the study of classical literature and poetry and adoption of the Western way of learning which could apply to real life to improve people's living and enrich the country. The Western way of learning contained methods of Western societies and civilizations which could