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the Arrival of Black Ships
Commodore Matthew Perry arrived to the Tokyo harbor. He brought the Kanagawa treaty, which was the treaty that forced Japan to its end of isolationism. The US president wanted the Japanese to open their ports for trade. This event led to the brginning of the Meiji Restoration. -
The Japanese signed the treaty from US
Commodore Perry sailed back to Kanagawa the following year for the answer to the treaty. The Tokugawa Shogunate was aware of the outside world even though they were in isolationism. They knew that China was been defeated in the Opium war, therefore the Tokugawa Shogunate signed the treaty so they do not have to fight with the US and end up like China in the Opium war. -
Harris Treaty
Ii Naosuke signs the Harris treaty which is the second treaty from US to open more ports. Naosuke killed many people that disagreed with him. -
Prince Mutsuhito became the Meiji Emperor
Prince Mutsuhito became the Meiji Emperor in January 30, 1867. When he became the emperor, he was only sixteen years old. He would become one of Japan's most important emperor. -
The end of the Tokugawa Shogunate
The Tokugawa Shogunate came to its officical end. This was because the opening of Japan made many other Shogunates to have weapons or ideas from the outside world and made them powerful than the Tokugawa Shogunate. -
The New Central Government
After the Tokugawa Shogunate ended their 250 years of ruling, two powerful clans, the Satsuma and the Choshu clans, also the Meiji Emperor formed the new central government. Soon, these clans will become even powerful than the emperor. -
The Charter Oath
The Meiji Emperor announced the Charter Oath in April 6, 1868. The Charter Oath had main five clauses. The first one is dismantling the feudal system, so that all people can be equal. The second clause is to have a military modernization, adopting knowledge from outside world. Third is to have political modernization, which means people should have open public discussions Forth is economic modernization, all classes should be united. And lastly it was the education modernization. -
From Kyoto to Tokyo
The Meiji Emperor changed the capital to Edo and renamed it as Tokyo. This picture is showing that the Meiji Emperor is going to the new capital, Tokyo. -
The first railway system
The first railway devoloped during the Meiji Restoration, September 8th, 1872. This railway connected Shimbashi, a city in Tokyo to the neighbor district, Yokohama. -
Tomioka Silk Mill
The Tomioka Silk Mill was bilt November 4, 1872. It was one of the most important factories at that time since silk was one of the most important expoting goods. Machines came from Europe and European came to teach the Japanese. -
The first telephone line
The idea of telephone came to Japan in 1887; a year after it was invented. It was connected between Tokyo and Yokohama in 1890. By 1900, telephone service was in fifty cities throughout the country. -
The death of the Meiji Emperor
The death of the Meiji Emperor led to the end of the Meiji restoration. Prince Taisho would become the emperor and Taisho Period will begin.
