Meiji Restoration

The Meiji Restoration, called at the time the Honorable Restoration, was a political event that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji and led to the westernisation of Japan. Although emperors had reigned before the restoration, the event restored practical power to the Emperor of Japan and consolidated the political system under him. It brought enormous change to Japan's political and social structure, spanning the late Edo period and the start of the Meiji era, during which Japan rapidly industrialised and adopted Western ideas, production methods and technology.