Home > Meiji Restoration
The Meiji Restoration (明治維新; Meiji Ishin), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Meiji Revolution or Renewal, describes a chain of events that led to a change in Japan's political and social structure; it occurred from 1866 to 1869, a period of 4 years that transverses both the late Edo (often called Late Tokugawa shogunate) and beginning of the Meiji Era.The formation in 1866 of the Satcho Alliance between Saigo Takamori, the leader of the Satsuma domain, and Kido Takayoshi, the leader of the Choshu domain, marks the beginning of the Meiji restoration. These two leaders supported the emperor and were brought together by Sakamoto Ryoma for the purpose of challenging the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate (bakufu) and restoring the emperor to power.
The Tokugawa bakufu came to an official end on November 9, 1867, when the 15th Tokugawa Shogun Tokugawa YoshinobuTokugawa Yoshinobu ( October 28, 1837 November 22, 1913) was the 15th and last shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He was born in Mito, Ibaraki, Japan, the seventh son of Tokugawa Nariaki, Daimyo of Mito, inferior of the Three Houses or Families th "put his prerogotives at the emperor's disposal" (Beasley, 52) and then resigned his position 10 days later. This was effectively the "restoration" (Taisei Hokan) of imperial rule, although Yoshinobu retained considerable power.
Shortly thereafter in January 1868Events January 3 Meiji Emperor declares " Meiji Restoration", his own restoration to full power, against the supporters of the Tokugawa Shogunate. January 10 Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu declares emperor's declaration "illegal" and attacks Kyoto. Pro-Emperor, the Boshin WarThe Boshin War (, 1868- 1869; literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro- Imperial forces in Japan. The defeat of the shogunate lead directly to the Meiji Restoration. Discontent between the shogunate an (War of the Year of the Dragon) started with the Battle of Toba Fushimi in which an army led by forces from Choshu and Satsuma defeated the ex-shogun's army and forced the Emperor to strip Yoshinobu of all power. The war ended in early 1869 with the siege of HakodateHakodate (; -shi) is a city and port located in Oshima, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 283,215 and the density of 816. 42 persons per km⊃2. The total area is 346. The city was founded on August 1, 1922 and the por, Hokkaido. The defeat of the armies of the former shogun (led by Hijikata Toshizo) marked the end of the Meiji Restoration; all defiance to the emperor and his rule ended.
The leaders of the Meiji Restoration, as this revolution came to be known, claimed that their actions restored the emperor's powers. This is not in fact true. Power simply moved from the Tokugawa Shogun to a new oligarchy of the daimyo who defeated him. These oligarchs were mostly from the Satsuma province ( Okubo Toshimichi and Saigo Takamori), and the Choshu province ( Ito Hirobumi, Yamagata Aritomo, and Kido Koin.)
1 Leaders
These were leading figures in the Meiji Restoration when the Japanese emperors retook power from the Tokugawa shoguns. Some of them went on to become Prime Ministers of Japan.
See also: shogun -- Cloistered rule -- History of Japan -- Lists of incumbents -- Meiji-era leaders
