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- try prior to the Restoration, it was under Emperor Meiji that the country underwent its most remarkable transformation. This short span of forty-five years marked an astonishing metamor�phosis from primitive feudal state to modern industrial and military power. What had taken the Western powers centuries to accomplish, Japan achieved in a few short decades. The Japa�nese people embraced these changes with an extraordinary in�tensity. Most notably, the rapid modernization displayed their incredible assimilative powers. However, this was not accom�plished without adversity. It required amazing resiliency and hard work for the people to overcome the economic hardships of the early Meiji years. More positively, the Japanese had a long history of fascination with that which was new, foreign and exotic, therefore making the transition more palatable. The doors of Japan had been flung open to a variety of foreign customs and technologies, leaving no one unaffected. Innova�tions in politics, society and economics materialized immedi�ately with a remarkable release of energy.
Amongst all the practical everyday changes, the Meiji govern�ment quickly realized that the ultimate goal of Japan must be to match the Western military might and industrial output. The only way they felt they could accomplish this was through a strong centralized modern government which could carry out drastic and sweeping political, social and economic reforms as well as build up the military and industrial sectors. In this way, they could achieve a "rich country and strong military" (fukoku kyobei), and remain independent from Western colonial en�croachment which was occurring all around them in East and Southeast Asia. The Japanese felt that by increasing their politi�cal and military power they could overturn the unequal trade treaties with the West. The treaties had left the Japanese in an inferior position and they were determined to rectify that problem.
One of the first public pronouncements of the youthful Em�peror Meiji was the Imperial Charter Oath in April 1868. In brief, the Oath called upon the Japanese people to unite in carrying out the administration of the new state; that each per�son would be allowed the freedom to pursue their own calling, in order to discourage any discontentment. The "evil" customs
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of the past were to be discontinued so all aspects of Japanese life could then be based on the "just laws of nature." It further promised "knowledge would be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule." In the long term, the government placed far too great an emphasis on mili�tary power and national welfare, instead of individual prosper�ity which would have enabled the average person to be raised to international living standards. This serious problem of putting the emperor and nation first would manifest into extremism in later generations.
The task of consolidating the new regime was daunting and there were often monumental obstacles to overcome. The new government inherited a financial crisis from the shogun era. Furthermore, the local lords (daimyo) and the warrior class (samurai) had to be paid off in order to prevent a rebellion. There were many minor insurgencies and disagreements along the way, but ultimately nothing would disrupt the Japanese march to progress. Even the most serious revolt, known as the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877 led by Saigo Takamori, started by conservative samurai upset with government policy, was doomed to failure. The newly equipped and Western-trained peasant army of the Meiji government was sent to suppress the sword-wielding samurai. The peasant army easily triumphed, signaling the un�equivocal end of the old feudal society.
In 1871 feudal fiefs were abolished in one bold stroke and the country was divided into prefectures. By 1876 the samurai were prohibited from carrying swords and reduced to the status of commoner. However, many fared quite well in the transition from feudal state to modern nation. Former samurai dominated Meiji government positions and were also predominant in the new police force of urban and rural Japan. In addition a good number of them became successful businessmen and entrepre�neurs in industry, banking and commerce.
The Meiji government improved the economic situation by implementing a number of policy changes in rapid succession. It modernized the currency, revised and standardized the tax sys�tem, created a national banking system, designed a modern postal service, and founded a daily newspaper.
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