1868年推翻德川幕府，還政給明治天皇的政治革命。在19世紀，德川幕府的鎖國政策受到俄國、英國和美國的挑戰，使日本的封建領導人意識到在西方船堅炮利的優勢下，日本顯得特別脆弱。在美國海軍准將伯理「造訪」後，日本被迫簽定了一系列不平等條約，包括給予西方列強特權，如同他們在中國一樣。而年輕的武士階級「侍」對幕府的統治一向不滿，他們揭竿而起反抗政府。1868年1月他們宣佈大政歸還天皇，1869年5月最後幾支幕府軍被迫投降。革命者迫使天皇頒佈五條誓文，徹底與過去的封建階級決裂，並尋求「富國強兵」之道。明治維新後開展了明治時代，是日本一段迅速現代化和西化的時期。亦請參閲Choshu、Ii Naosuke、Okubo Toshimichi、Saigo Takamori、Satsuma、Tosa。
Meiji Restoration
Overthrow of Japan's Tokugawa shogunate and restoration to power of the Meiji emperor in 1868. In the 19th century, the Tokugawa shogunate's policy of isolation was challenged by Russia, England, and the U.S., making Japanese feudal leaders aware of Japan's vulnerability to superior Western firepower. After the visit of Commodore Matthew Perry, the country was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties, which, as in China, gave Western nations special privileges in Japan. In response, young samurai from feudal domains historically hostile to the Tokugawa regime took up arms against the government. In January 1868 they announced the restoration of the emperor to power, and in May 1869 the last Tokugawa forces surrendered. The revolutionaries had the emperor issue the Charter Oath, which promised a break with the feudal class restrictions of the past and a search for knowledge that could transform Japan into a “rich country with a strong military.” The Restoration ushered in the Meiji period, a time of rapid modernization and westernization. See also Choshu, Ii Naosuke, Okubo Toshimichi, Saigo Takamori, Satsuma, Tosa.
