09 Nov 1867: Meiji Restoration begins in Japan

On this day in 1867, the ruling Shogunate reached an agreement with the Japanese emperor, Meiji, to share power. The agreement would soon fall apart, and Meiji would consolidate his gains; over the next 45 years, he would westernize the nation.

unknown Japanese artist, c. 1870. (Wikimedia Commons)

Some more details about Meiji:

• in 1868, he moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo
• his reforms eliminated the samurai
• demand for paper grew significantly during his reign, lessening the demand for traditional washi
• he created a bicameral legislature, the Diet, in 1889
• he led the Japanese troops in their successful campaign against the Russians in 1904-05 (the Russo-Japanese War)
  • he presented President Roosevelt with 16th century samurai armor as thanks for his assistance negotiating the Treaty of Portsmouth