The Meiji Restoration

In world history, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 ranks as a revolutionary watershed, on a par with the American and French Revolutions. In this volume, leading historians from North America, Europe, and Japan employ global history in novel ways to offer fresh economic, social, political, cultural, and military perspectives on the Meiji Restoration and the subsequent creation of the modern Japanese nation-state. Seamlessly mixing meta- and micro-history, the authors examine how the Japanese state and Japanese people engaged with global trends of the early nineteenth century. They also explore the internal military conflicts that marked the 1860s and the process of reconciliation after 1868. They conclude with discussions of how new political, cultural, and diplomatic institutions were created as Japan emerged as a global nation, defined in multiple ways by its place in the world.

“'A timely intervention: this book portrays the Meiji Restoration as being at the crossroads of international trade and the world economy, and as part of the violent 1860s that remade the world. As a result, we are beginning to understand the Restoration on a truly global stage.' Sebastian Conrad, Freie Universit”

ät Berlin
'Viewing the Meiji Restoration through the prism of 'global intersections', these arresting essays illuminate the interfusion of transnational and national elements in the creation – and stabilization – of the modern Japanese nation-state and the society on which it depended. A varied collection that provides new perspectives on old questions.' Carol Gluck, Colombia University, New York
'To widen the lens is to alter the picture. By refocusing the Restoration within a global frame, the sharp-eyed historians featured here manage to disclose both temporal rhythms and spatial patterns that have largely eluded us until now. The early Meiji landscape will never look quite the same.' Kären Wigen, Stanford University, California
'… this is a significant contribution to the understanding of the Restoration through its connection to international and global events, as articulated in Mark Metzler's opening essay, and to regional histories outside of the shogunate, imperial house, or Sat-Chō alliance.' M. Chaiklin, Choice
'scholars with a research interest in the nineteenth century will find a great deal of value in the chapters of this volume, as will those seeking to spruce up their survey lectures on modern Japanese history with new insights and discoveries, … the chapters offer ample evidence of the value of foregrounding the global forces that helped shape Japan's emergence as a modern nation/empire.' Daniel Botsman, Monumenta Nipponica
'The book … displays the fruits of scholarly work done in the years leading up to the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration in 2018 … Every chapter in the volume is written by a well-known expert on Meiji Japan, is of outstanding quality, based on in-depth analysis and with meticulous attention to primary sources, and presents unique conclusions.' Sven Saaler, The Journal of Japanese Studies

Robert Hellyer is Associate Professor of History at Wake Forest University and has published widely on topics related to Japanese foreign relations and trade as well as Pacific history. His publications include Defining Engagement: Japan and Global Contexts, 1640-1868 (2010). Harald Fuess is Professor of History at the Heidelberg Center for Transcultural Studies, Heidelberg University, and Project Professor at Kyoto University. He also served as elected President of the European Association of Japanese Studies. His publications include Japanese Imperialism and Its Postwar Legacy (1998) and Divorce in Japan: Gender, Family, and the State (2004).

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