meji

Meji, often rendered as Meiji in English, refers to the Meiji era in Japan, a period of profound political, social, and economic transformation from 1868 to 1912 during Emperor Meiji’s reign. The era began with the Meiji Restoration, which restored imperial rule and ended the Tokugawa shogunate, setting Japan on a path of rapid modernization.

The Meiji reforms aimed to centralize power and modernize the state. The old samurai-dominated system was dismantled, the han feudal domains were reorganized into prefectures, and a centralized bureaucratic government emerged. A new conscript army, a standardized legal code, and the 1889 Meiji Constitution established a constitutional framework, albeit with strong executive authority. Infrastructure and industry expanded rapidly, including railways, telegraph networks, and modern factories, supported by land tax reforms and state-led investment.

Society and culture changed as Japan adopted Western educational models, scientific advances, dress, and administrative practices while maintaining distinctive traditions. Education became widely accessible, literacy rose, and urbanization accelerated. Economic growth fueled the rise of industrial capitalism and new social classes, alongside ongoing debates about modernization, nationalism, and imperial expansion.

Legacy of the Meiji era is substantial. It marked the transition from a feudal society to a centralized, industrialized modern state and positioned Japan as a major regional power. The era’s reforms laid foundations for subsequent economic and military expansion, influencing Japanese governance and society well into the 20th century and shaping historical interpretations of modernization in East Asia.