Land Reform, Industrialization and Trade

The Meiji Oligarchs recognized that achieving the national goal of ukoku kyohei (“enrich the country – strengthen the military”) required fundamentally transforming Japan from a weak, agricultural, and feudal society into an industrial power. Together, these reforms strengthened the economy, helped finance government projects, and laid the foundation for Japan’s emergence as an industrial and military power. These economic changes were also central to gaining diplomatic respect and achieving equality with Western powers.

Part of the full scheme of work on the Meiji Restoration