1867至1868年间，德川时代结束，明治时代重新崛起。明治天皇将首都从京都移至东京；皇权重立，事实是政权从 德川Bakufu的手中转移到一小部分的贵族和以前的武士手中。

In 1867/68, the Tokugawa era found an end in the Meiji Restoration.

The emperor Meiji was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo which became the new capital;

his imperial power was restored. The actual political power was transferred from the Tokugawa Bakufu into the hands of a small group of nobles and former samurai.

如同其它投降的亚洲国家一样，日本不得不与西方势力签定不平等条约。这些条约使得西方国家在日本拥有单方面的经济和法律特权。为了从欧洲国家那里重新获得独立，重新光复其在世界上的地位，日本明治天皇决定从经济和军事上减小日本与西方大国的差距。疯狂的改革几乎遍及日本的各行各业。

Like other subjugated Asian nations, the Japanese were forced to sign unequal treaties with Western powers. These treaties granted the Westerners one-sided economical and legal advantages in Japan. In order to regain independence from the Europeans and Americans and establish herself as a respected nation in the world, Meiji Japan was determined to close the gap to the Western powers economically and militarily.Drastic reforms were carried out in practically all areas.

新政府力争将日本建成为一个民主国家，人民安享平等。幕府时期各社会阶层的等级制逐渐瓦解。最终，武士阶层成为社会改革最大的受损者，因为他们失去了往日的特权。这些改革还包括人权的建立，比如1873年的信仰自由。

The new government aimed to make Japan a democratic state with equality among all its people.

The boundaries between the social classes of Tokugawa Japan were gradually broken down.

Consequently, the samurai were the big losers of those social reforms since they lost all their privileges.The reforms also included the establishment of human rights such as religious freedom in 1873.

为了稳定新成立的政府，原先的大名必须将手中的土地上交给天皇。1870年此改革成功结束，继之，地方政府也进行了重新改革。教育系统也跟据法国和德国的教育系统进行了改革。义务教育的实施即是这些改革之一。

In order to stabilize the new government, the former feudal lords (daimyo) had to return all their lands to the emperor. This was achieved already in 1870 and followed by the restructuring of the country in prefectures.

The education system was reformed after the French and later after the German system. Among those reforms was the introduction of compulsory education.

经过一二十年的西方化之后，保守主义和民族主义开始复活：儒教和神道教（包括对天皇的崇拜）不断得到人们的响应和支持，并被付诸于教育机构中。当然，在欧洲和美帝国主义的强权时代，日本的首要任务就是在军事上赶超欧美，在全民实行征召，依照普鲁士军队的模式，一支新的军队建立起来，同时，日本还依照英国的模式建立了一支海军。

After about one to two decades of intensive westernization, a revival of conservative and nationalistic feelings took place: principles of Confucianism and Shinto including the worship of the emperor were increasingly emphasized and taught at educational institutions.

Catching up on the military sector was, of course, a high priority for Japan in an era of European and American imperialism. Universal conscription was introduced, and a new army modelled after the Prussian force, and a navy after the British one were established.

为了将幕府时期的农业经济发展成一个发达的工业经济，许多日本学者都被派往海外学习西方科学和语言，而许多外国专家也纷纷来到日本进行教学。经过大量的政府投资，交通和交流网得到改善。政府还直接支持商业和工业的发展，尤其是强大的家族商业----财阀。巨大的支出终于使日本于19世纪80年代发生财经危机，继之，日本进行了货币系统的改革，建立了日本银行。纺织业的增长最快，成为二战前日本最大的工业。

In order to transform the agrarian economy of Tokugawa Japan into a developed industrial one, many Japanese scholars were sent abroad to study Western science and languages, while foreign experts taught in Japan. The transportation and communication networks were improved by means of large governmental investments. The government also directly supported the prospering of businesses and industries, especially the large and powerful family businesses called zaibatsu. The large expenditures led to a financial crisis in the middle of the 1880's which was followed by a reform of the currency system and the establishment of the Bank of Japan. The textile industry grew fastest and remained the largest Japanese industry until WW2.

早期的工厂工作环境非常差，但是社会主义和民主运动都被统治阶级很快*下去。

Work conditions in the early factories were very bad, but developing socialist and liberal movements were soon suppressed by the ruling clique.

政治方面，日本于1889年第一次进行西式改革。议会建立起来，天皇仍具有君主权：位居军队、海军、政府和立法之上。然而，实权仍掌握在统治阶层手中。明治天皇绝大部分时候都赞成他们。因为各小政治团体无法取得一致，所以并没有掌握到实权。

 On the political sector, Japan received its first European style constitution in 1889. A parliament, the Diet was established while the emperor kept sovereignty: he stood at the top of the army, navy, executive and legislative power. The ruling clique, however, kept on holding the actual power, and the able and intelligent emperor Meiji agreed with most of their actions. Political parties did not yet gain real power due to the lack of unity among their members.

源于在韩国的矛盾分歧，中日战争于1894-1895年暴发。日本战胜中国，取得了台湾，但是迫于俄国、法国和德国的压力，不得不将领土归还原主。所谓的三方干涉使得日本不断增强其在军队和海军的实力。源于在韩国和满州新的利益冲突，中俄战争于1904至1905年暴发。日本军队获胜，并取得了领土和国际影响力。日本继续扩大其在韩国的影响，并于1910年将其兼并。在日本，战争的成功使得民族主义不断增强，其它的亚洲国家民族自信心也不断增强。

1912年，明治天皇去世，年老的政客们统治的时代即将走到尽头。

Conflicts of interests in Korea between China and Japan led to the Sino-Japanese War in 1894-95.

Japan defeated China, received Taiwan, but was forced by Russia, France and Germany to return other territories. The so called Triple Intervention caused the Japanese army and navy to intensify their rearmament.

New conflicts of interests in Korea and Manchuria, this time between Russia and Japan, led to the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-05.

 The Japanese army also won this war gaining territory and finally some international respect. Japan further increased her influence on Korea and annexed her completely in 1910.

In Japan, the war successes caused nationalism to increase even more, and other Asian nations also started to develop national self confidence.

In 1912 emperor Meiji died, and the era of the ruling clique of elder statesmen (genro) was about to end.