Tokyo under Meiji saw revolutionary changes in Japan's political, social and economic history. The Meiji period in Tokyo began with the ascendancy of Emperor Meiji in 1868. Prior to that, U.S. Navy under the command of Commodore Matthew C. Perry forced the reigning shogun to sign an agreement allowing the Americans to trade in Japan.
During the Shogunate period the capital of Japan was in Edo (now Tokyo), while the residence of the Japanese emperor was in Kyoto. Emperor Meiji shifted his imperial capital from Kyoto to Edo and renamed it Edo Tokyo or the 'eastern capital'.
Meiji Period from 1868 – 1911
The Meiji period in Tokyo's chronological history lasted from 1868 to 1911. Vast changes were noticed in every sphere of Japaneses life. The agrarian economy was replaced by an industrial set up. Politically the feudal lords lost their administrative powers, and the samurai
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warriors were subdued. They were no longer allowed to carry swords.
Emperor Meiji appointed a Prime Minister and cabinet for governing the country. Japanese parliament, the Diet was elected for the first time, and a constitution drafted. The Japanese government between the years 1881 and 1896 retained American, British, French and German officials to bring about changes for creating a modern Japanese society.
The introduction of railways in 1872 and postal services revolutionized transport and communication within and outside Japan.
Tokyo under Meiji saw the acceptance of European and American lifestyle patterns by the Japanese. The entire society changed in the course of Meiji rule in Japan. Significantly, the city incurred wide spread damage due to the Great Kanto Earthquake and a tsunami. This natural calamity claimed about a million lives in the Tokyo city.
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