Meiji Restoration Industrialization and Economic Reforms (1868-1912)

1. Convention of Kanagawa ends long seclusion

   Mar 31, 1854Labels: Convention of, Tokugawa shogunate

   • Treaty Kanagawa
   • Britannica

2. Charter Oath declares modernization goals

   Apr 6, 1868Labels: Charter Oath, Emperor Meiji

   • Britannica
   • Meiji Restoration

3. Abolition of domains centralizes fiscal authority

   Jan 1, 1871Labels: Abolition of, prefectures

   • Han abolition
   • Meiji Restoration

4. Iwakura Mission studies Western institutions

   Dec 23, 1871Labels: Iwakura Mission

   • Nippon com
   • NDL Archives

5. Land Tax Reform shifts taxation to cash

   Jan 1, 1873Labels: Land Tax

   • Japan Society
   • Land Tax Reform

6. Postal Savings System mobilizes small household deposits

   Jan 1, 1875Labels: Postal Savings

   • SF Fed
   • FRUS 1876

7. Land-tax rate reduced after rural unrest

   Jan 4, 1877Labels: Land-tax reduction

   • US Historian
   • Japan Society

8. Matsukata Deflation tightens money and credit

   Oct 21, 1881Labels: Matsukata Deflation, Matsukata Masayoshi

   • Matsukata
   • Chichibu

9. Bank of Japan Act creates a central bank

   Jun 1, 1882Labels: Bank of, central bank

   • BOJ History
   • JACAR

10. Meiji Constitution promulgated; Diet later convenes

    Feb 11, 1889Labels: Meiji Constitution, Imperial Diet

    • JURIST
    • Meiji Const

11. Treaty of Shimonoseki brings indemnity and territory

    Apr 17, 1895Labels: Treaty of

    • Shimonoseki
    • Sino Japanese War

12. Construction begins on Yawata Steel Works

    Jan 1, 1897Labels: Yawata Steel, state industry

    • NDL Landmarks
    • Yahata Steel

13. Anglo-Japanese treaty ends key “unequal” provisions

    Jul 17, 1899Labels: Anglo-Japanese Treaty, Britain

    • Anglo Japan 1894
    • Harris Treaty

14. Yawata Steel Works begins operations

    Feb 5, 1901Labels: Yawata Steel

    • NDL Landmarks
    • Yahata Steel

15. Treaty of Portsmouth confirms Japan’s regional influence

    Sep 5, 1905Labels: Treaty of, Russo-Japanese War

    • Britannica
    • Treaty text

16. Factory Act passed to regulate industrial labor

    Jan 1, 1911Labels: Factory Act

    • Disability timeline
    • Factory Act

17. Death of Emperor Meiji closes the reform era

    Jul 30, 1912Labels: Emperor Meiji, Meiji era

    • Meiji era
    • JACAR