I found a website for you Rikki, if you're interested in seeing old photos.
http://www.meijishowa.com/150 Years Ago:
10-23 (1868) Meiji Period StartsThe Meiji Restoration ends the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled for 265 years
On February 3, 1867, fifteen-year old Prince Mutsuhito succeeded his father, Emperor Komei. The era in which Emperor Mutsuhito ruled ( October 23, 1868 – July 30, 1912) was named Meiji or enlightened rule.
The Meiji Period was categorized by drastic reform that jumpstarted Japan’s modernization and rise to world power status.
The first reform was the Five Charter Oath of 1868:
By this oath, we set up as our aim the establishment of the national wealth on a broad basis and the framing of a constitution and laws.
Deliberative assemblies shall be widely established and all matters decided by open discussion.
All classes, high and low, shall be united in vigorously carrying out the administration of affairs of state.
The common people, no less than the civil and military officials, shall all be allowed to pursue their own calling so that there may be no discontent.
Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based upon the just laws of Nature.
Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundation of imperial rule
To aid Japan’s modernization, the Japanese government employed over 3,000 foreign experts (o-yatoi gaikokujin or ‘hired foreigners’) and sent a large number of Japanese students to Europe and the USA.
The closely monitored and heavily subsidized process of modernization greatly enhanced the power of zaibatsu firms like Mitsui and Mitsubishi, which grew into giants during the Meiji Period.
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