Modernization and Industrialization of Japan under the Meiji

By alm226676

  • Meiji Period Begins

    Meiji Period Begins
    The Meiji Period represnets the time when Japan started to break free from their fedual isolated state. The emporor believed in modernizing Japan to further it as a country. The Meiji period was one best times for Japan.
    Picture: https://www.google.com/search?q=meiji+restoration&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=yPm5U-f1MdGfyATvl4DICw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=894#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=mcyV9xF6YWR9JM%3A;A2K31g9eIEiaoM;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jref.com%2Fimages%2Fportal%2Fhistory%2Fmeiji_restoration.jpg;

  • A Postal Service was established

    A postal service was put into place by Emperor Meiji. The service started out in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. This was a new way for the citizens of Japan to effectively communicate with each other.

  • The National Bank Act

    The National Bank Act
    This act led to the establishment of 4 banks between the years of 1973 and 1974. The banks began to print convertible notes which funded the industry and later replaced the government printed notes. Picture; http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/US_dollar_note_and_Japanese_National_Bank_note_1873.jpg/220px-US_dollar_note_and_Japanese_National_Bank_note_1873.jpg

  • The first railway opened

    The first railway that ran between Shimbashi and Yokohama opened. A one-way trip took 53 minutes in comparison to 40 minutes for a modern electric train. Service started with nine round trips daily.

  • "Datsu-A Ron" was published

    Fukuzawa Yukichi anonymously published an editorial to a Japanese newspaper. In this article he stated that he believed that Japan should be come apart of the great westernized countries and “leave Asia.” He expressed his opinions about how Japan needed to update their economy and government or else they would be taken over. Yukichi received much criticism about his piece and it was put aside for many years. Many people have come to believe that this was one of the reasons.

  • Telegraph cable links are established

    Government-sponsored telegraph cable links are established in all major Japanese cities. The introduction of telegraphs made huge changes to the way Japanese lived. They no longer had to travel in boats to other cities to talk, trade or spread knowledge and ideas. The telegraph made it easy to contact other Japanese in other cities.

  • The Imperial Rescript on Education was signed by the Emperor of Meiji

    This placed government influence on the guiding principles of education in Japan. It was read out load at all important school events and functions and students were required to memorize it verbatim.

  • Meiji Constitution was established

    Meiji Constitution was established
    The Constitution of the Entire Japan, or also known as the Meiji Constitution, was established. This document established limits on the powers of the executive branch and the emperor of Japan. An independent judiciary branch was created too. Many civil rights and liberties were granted as well. This constitution was in place until it was suspended September 2, 1945. The Meiji Constitution was replaced by the Constitution of Japan during the occupation of Japan.

  • Takuri was produced

    Takuri was produced
    Komanosuke Uchiyama produced the Takuri, the first entirely Japanese-made gasoline engine car. This was the mere beginning to Japan’s future in car manufacturing. Today’s Japanese automotive manufacturers include Honda, Toyota, Daihatsu, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Yamaha, Subaru, Suzuki and Isuzu. Picture: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=takuri&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=takuri&sc=8-6&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=1B2353B981A08EB080453090AF21E4D6E818ADF9&selectedIndex=0

  • Meiji Period ends

    When the Meiji period ended, with the death of the emperor in 1912, Japan had
    • a highly centralized, bureaucratic government;
    • a constitution establishing an elected parliament;
    • a well-developed transport and communication system;
    • a highly educated population free of feudal class restrictions;
    • an established and rapidly growing industrial sector based on the latest technology; and
    • a powerful army and navy.

  • The shipping and textiles industry takes off

    By the end of the Meiji period, more than a third of the world's supply of silk came from Japan and the percentage of exports carried on Japanese built and owned ships rose from 7% in 1893 to 52% by 1913.