The Meiji Period (Japan, Russia)

The era of Emperor Meiji from 1868 to 1912 became known as Meiji Period. During the Meiji Period Japan underwent major changes in its social structure, internal politics, economy, military and foreign relations. Japan changed from an isolated feudal state to a modern great power. Important events during the Meiji Period were the restoration of the practical imperial rule, the abolition of the feudal order, the introduction of the compulsory education, the abolition of the treaty ports, the industrialisation, the constitution of 1889, the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895, the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 and the expansion of Japan to Korea, the Okinawa Islands, southern Sakhalin and Taiwan. The Meiji Period was followed by the Taisho Period.

The Tomioka Silk Mill was established in 1872 by the Japanese Government with machines from France. It marks Japan's entry into the modern and industrialised era and also illustrates Japan's desire to quickly start a mass production of silk. Since 2014 is the Tomioka Silk Mill with its Related Sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution are since 2015 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They bear testimony to the rapid industrialisation of the country during the Meiji Period, through the development of the iron and steel industry, shipbuilding and coal mining. In this period Japan sought technology transfer from Europe and America and adapted this technology to the country’s needs and social traditions. Japan is considered to be the first country where the transfer of Western industrialisation to a non-Western nation was successful.

The Glover's Residence was built by the Scottish merchant Thomas Blake Glover. It is the oldest Western style house surviving in Japan and known as setting of the opera Madama Butterfly.

Not everyone in Japan was pleased with the direction the nation had taken. The Saga Rebellion was an uprising of former samurais in Kyushu in 1874 against the Meiji Government, which was led by Etō Shimpei and Shima Yoshitake. It ended with a victory of the government and an end of the rebellion. The issues which led to the uprising remained unresolved.

The Saga Castle was burned down during the Saga Rebellion and was rebuilt between 2001 and 2004. It is the largest wooden castle reconstruction in Japan and was listed as one of the 100 Fine Castles of Japan. It houses the Saga Castle History Museum.

The Ryukyu Kingdom was an independent kingdom on the Okinawa Islands in East Asia. It was founded in the 15th century and soon played an important role in maritime trade. It was in a tributary relationship with China. Already since 1609 it was a Japanese vassal and in 1879 the kingdom was officially annexed by Japan. Today the Okinawa Islands form the Japanese Prefecture of Okinawa.

The Shuri Castle is a gusuku, a Ryukyuan castle, and was the royal palace and capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom. In the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 it was almost completely destroyed, but beginning in 1992 it was rebuilt involving photographs, historical records and memory. Since 2000 it is together with the other Gusuku Sites and the Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Russo-Japanese War was fought between February 1904 and September 1905. It started because of rival urges of territorial expansion of the Russian Empire and Japan in Manchuria and Korea. During the war Japan demonstrated its power in various won battles and thus surprised international observers. The war ended with the Treaty of Portsmouth, which was mediated by the USA. Japan gained the territory leased by Russia in China and the southern half of Sakhalin, Russia left Manchuria and Korea remained in the Japanese sphere of influence. It was the first important victory of an Asian power over an European great power for centuries.

Monument of Vsevolod Rudnev, a Russian naval officer during the war