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Meiji, Japan Facts & Worksheets

The Meiji Era, which lasted 44 years in Japan's history, from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912, was a time when the great Emperor Mutsuhito presided over the nation.

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The Meiji Era, which lasted 44 years in Japan’s history, from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912, was a time when the great Emperor Mutsuhito presided over the nation. He was the first Japanese emperor to exercise real political power in centuries and is also known as the Meiji Emperor.

See the fact file below for more information on The Meiji Era, or you can download our 23-page Meiji, Japan worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

SHORT HISTORY OF JAPAN

  • Around 35,000 years ago, Paleolithic people from the Asian continent colonized Japan. About 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, the Jomon culture emerged. Jomon hunter-gatherers created sophisticated clay vessels, furry garments, and wooden homes.
  • By the beginning of 300 BCE, iron and bronze metallurgy had developed, as well as rice growing. Yayoi, which translates to “new life,” is the name given to this period, which lasted until 250 AD.
  • This refers to a location in Tokyo where relics from this era were discovered. The oldest recorded history of Japan spans the years 250 to 538. Shintoism was first practiced during this time and was referred to as the Kofun when the Japanese Imperial House rose to power.
  • Thus, the Japanese era expanded to Nara and Heian Periods (710-1192), Kamakura Period (1192-1333), Muromachi Period (1338-1573), Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1603), Edo Period (1603-1868), Meiji Period (1868-1912), Taisho and Early Showa Period (1912-1945) and Postwar Period (1945-1988)
  • Since 1989, Japan has been in the Heisei period, with Emperor Akihito at the helm. The nation has made enormous economic strides over the years. It is now well-known abroad for its popular culture, which includes manga, anime, video games, tourist attractions, culture, cuisine, and history.

THE MEIJI ERA – POLITICS

  • Despite the political turmoil brought on by previous eras, Japan had total control over its foreign trade and legal system. It demonstrated complete independence and equality in international affairs by participating in and winning two wars, one against Russia, a significant European power. 
  • Japan had achieved its objectives in a little over a generation and, in the process, transformed its whole society. 
  • Due to Japan’s success in modernizing, there is a lot of curiosity about the reasons for and mechanisms underlying its rapid adoption of Western political, social, and economic institutions.

THE MEIJI ERA – FASHION

  • Japanese men in uniform, in the government, or other official jobs were the first to generally adopt Western-style clothing during the Meiji Era as part of a push toward industrialization and perception of modernity. 
  • Western-style clothing was first included in official uniforms in 1872, and it swiftly came to be seen as a symbol of elitism, modernity, and wealth.
  • The quick inflow of Western culture that came with the country’s opening to the outside world had a significant impact on fashion.
  • With the aid of the government’s industrial development program, modern silk mills were constructed, resulting in increased silk production. As a result, silk became more affordable and came in a wide range of fabrics, such as crepe, figured satin, Omeshi, and Meisin.

THE MEIJI ERA – ECONOMY

  • Incredibly quickly, Japan industrialized during the Meiji Era. Several businesses were building massive corporations that produced iron, steel, ships, railroads, and other heavy industrial items in a nation where only a few decades ago, manufacturers and merchants were regarded as the lowest class of society. 
  • Japan transitioned from a sleepy, rural nation to a burgeoning industrial powerhouse under the Meiji Emperor’s reign.
  • Because farmers paid the taxes that generated the money needed for the government to fund investments in industrial development, the expansion of the agricultural sector of the economy contributed to the expansion of Japan’s manufacturing industry.
  • Trade and industrialization significantly impacted how people lived their everyday lives. For example, after sake became a business, it gained a very different role in society. 
  • Industrialization had enhanced both the quality and quantity of sake, which had previously been primarily home-brewed and reserved for special occasions. 
  • This led to the emergence of the local bar and many of the social problems associated with alcohol.
  • The zaibatsu, or Japanese industrialists, were the country’s economic leaders. Shipbuilding and military enforcement through arms manufacturing also developed during the Meiji Era.

THE MEIJI ERA – CULTURE

  • The introduction of innovative concepts and technologies during the Meiji Era profoundly affected every aspect of Japanese life. 
  • At the same time, Japan continued efforts to preserve its cultural character. In the end, modern Japan would result from a combination of the ancient and the new.
  • Many Japanese people embraced western culture quickly, both in appearance and behavior. For instance, the chonmage was the typical masculine hairstyle in Japan. 
  • Specifically, the back of the head was to be left unshaven, and it was to be brought up and folded over the top of the head.
  • Tea changed during this time as well. The massive use of tea by Japanese people began around this time. Tea became a regular part of Japanese life and was no longer only consumed during tea ceremonies or other special occasions.

THE MEIJI ERA – KEY EVENTS

  • The Meiji Restoration in 1868 ended the Tokugawa shogunate (military administration) and, nominally, restored direct imperial power under Mutsuhito, bringing an end to the Edo (Tokugawa) period (1603-1867) in Japanese history.
  • Japan’s sphere of hegemony in Northeast Asia was recognized internationally as a result of its part in the victories in the three major world wars.
  • These include the: Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), and the annexations of Taiwan (1895) and Korea (1910). However, as Western liberalism made inroads and urban areas became more industrialized, Meiji officials began putting more of a premium on maintaining Japan’s traditional institutions. 
  • Thus, the admiration for Emperor Meiji, who is now linked to military victory and has always represented modernization, increased.

First Sino- Japanese War

  • Between 1894 and 1895, the Qing dynasty of China and the Empire of Japan engaged in combat in the Sino-Japanese War. Japan won hands-down in the battle for control of Manchuria and Korea, which involved the two regions.
  • Japan had seen a period of rapid modernization from 1868, known as the Meiji Restoration, and had emerged as a major force in East Asia. 
  • The Qing dynasty of China was disturbed by this because it considered Japan a danger to its own status in the region. Japan and China’s hostilities towards each other reached a breaking point in 1894.

Russo-Japanese war

  • The Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan engaged in a military battle from 1904-1905 known as the Russo-Japanese War.
  • The primary reason for the Russo-Japanese conflict was that both nations claimed Manchuria, a region partially in China and partly in the Korean Empire, as well as in Russia and Japan.

Meiji, Japan Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Meiji Era Japan across 23 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Meiji Era, Japan, which lasted 44 years in Japan’s history, from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912, was a time when the great Emperor Mutsuhito presided over the nation.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Meiji Japan Facts
  2. Imperial Timeline
  3. The Meiji Three Restoration
  4. Three Great Nobles
  5. Man of Meiji
  6. Meiji Era in my Country
  7. Meiji in Haiku
  8. Meiji Inspired Art
  9. Rich Country, Strong Military
  10. Japan Today
  11. The Oath of Five Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Meiji Period take place?

The Meiji Period took place from 1868 to 1912 in Japan. It was a time of rapid modernization, industrialization, and westernization following the fall of the Edo Shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule under Emperor Meiji.

What were the main goals of the Meiji government?

The main goals of the Meiji government were to strengthen and modernize Japan, in order to be able to resist foreign powers and to become a more powerful and prosperous nation. The Meiji government sought to achieve this by implementing policies aimed at modernizing the economy, developing industry, and strengthening the military.

What were some of the key changes during the Meiji Period?

The Meiji Period brought about many changes in Japan, some key changes include: the abolition of feudal domains and the establishment of a centralized government, the adoption of a new legal system, the establishment of a national education system, the adoption of a new monetary system, and the opening of the country to foreign trade and investment.

How did the Meiji government achieve modernization?

The Meiji government achieved modernization by implementing a number of policies and reforms, such as: the establishment of a centralized government, the adoption of a new legal system, the establishment of a national education system, the adoption of a new monetary system, and the opening of the country to foreign trade and investment. The Meiji government also imported and adopted many western technologies, institutions, and ideas, and sent delegations and students to study abroad.

How did the Meiji Period affect the society and culture of Japan?

The Meiji Period had a profound impact on the society and culture of Japan. The modernization and westernization brought about by the Meiji government led to significant changes in the way of life for Japanese people. The traditional social hierarchy was dismantled and a new class system was established. The Meiji Period also brought about changes in fashion, art, and architecture, and the growth of a new urban culture. The Meiji Period also brought about the decline of traditional culture and values, as well as the rise of a new national identity and nationalism sentiment.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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