The new leaders of the Meiji regime

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The new leaders of the Meiji regime planned to create a modern political system based on the Western model, as part of their overall goal of modernizing and industrializing Japan. They recognized that this would require significant changes to their society and institutions, and they set about implementing these changes in a systematic and deliberate manner. While they did not entirely eliminate Western influence from Japan, they did seek to balance the adoption of new technologies and ideas with a deep respect for Japanese culture and tradition. They also worked to empower the Emperor as a symbol of national unity and pride, although they did not give him absolute power. Finally, they recognized the importance of the samurai class in Japanese society, but also sought to modernize and restructure this group in order to better serve the needs of the new modern state.

The New Leaders of the Meiji Regime