History UsefulNotes / MeijiRestoration

%% [[caption-width-right:1000:]]

In 1854 that began to change when Commodore Matthew Perry ''[[note]]([[{{WebVideo/CrashCourse}} no, not]] [[{{Series/Friends}} that]] [[{{Creator/MatthewPerry}} Matthew Perry]])[[/note]]'' of the U.S. Navy pulled into a harbor in Shimoda and used GunboatDiplomacy to open Japan into trading with the outside world. This opened up all kinds of turmoil within the various clans. In 1866, the Satsuma and Choshu domains (nursing a 250-year old grudge over their defeats against UsefulNotes/TokugawaIeyasu in the Battle of Sekigahara)[[note]]That said, other domains (particularly their samurai / ronin) played major roles as well (Such as Tosa and Hizen), but they tend to be OutOfFocus in popular history[[/note]] allied (through the auspices of maverick {{Ronin}} UsefulNotes/SakamotoRyoma) and built the foundation of the Meiji restoration, challenging the Tokugawa clan to restore power to the emperor. The previous Emperor passed away in 1867, allowing Meiji (Mutsuhito) to take the throne. This is of course, TheThemeParkVersion, the reality is far more complex. [[note]]For example, Satsuma and Choshu were not on the best of terms during the initial stages of the Meiji Restoration. After the Meiji government was established, their relationship would remain frictious, which evolved into a full-blown InterserviceRivalry between the later Imperial Army and the Navy.[[/note]]

In 1854 that began to change when Commodore Matthew Perry ''[[note]]([[{{WebVideo/CrashCourse}} no, not]] [[{{Series/Friends}} that]] [[{{Creator/MatthewPerry}} Matthew Perry]])[[/note]]'' of the U.S. Navy pulled into a harbor in Shimoda and used GunboatDiplomacy to open Japan into trading with the outside world. This opened up all kinds of turmoil within the various clans. In 1866, the Satsuma and Choshu domains (nursing a 250-year old grudge over their defeats against UsefulNotes/TokugawaIeyasu in the Battle of Sekigahara)[[note]]That said, other domains (particularlly their samurai / ronin) played major roles as well (Such as Tosa and Hizen), but they tend to be OutOfFocus in popular history[[/note]] allied (through the auspices of maverick {{Ronin}} UsefulNotes/SakamotoRyoma) and built the foundation of the Meiji restoration, challenging the Tokugawa clan to restore power to the emperor. The previous Emperor passed away in 1867, allowing Meiji (Mutsuhito) to take the throne. This is of course, TheThemeParkVersion, the reality is far more complex. [[note]]For example, Satsuma and Choshu were not on the best of terms during the initial stages of the Meiji Restoration. After the Meiji government was established, their relationship would remain frictious, which evolved into a full-blown InterserviceRivalry between the later Imperial Army and the Navy.[[/note]]

* ''Blossoms and Shadows'' is a dramatization of the beginning of the Meiji Restoration through the eyes of a fictional young woman tending the wounded. Many parts of the book are about the "Village School Under the Pine" and its students, which played a significant part in fomenting dissent against the Tokugawa government.[[/folder]]

** ''Series/{{Atsuhime}}'' (篤姫, 2008), about the Lady [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenshō-in Tenshō-in]] (portrayed by Aoi Miyazaki), a Satsuma princess who married into the Tokugawa Shogunate, and had to traverse her ConflictingLoyalty between her family and her domain. The second Taiga drama to have a page here on Wiki/TVTropes.

In 1854 that began to change when Commodore Matthew Perry ''[[note]]([[{{WebVideo/CrashCourse}} no, not]] [[{{Series/Friends}} that]] [[{{Creator/MatthewPerry}} Matthew Perry]])[[/note]]'' of the U.S. Navy pulled into a harbor in Shimoda and used GunboatDiplomacy to open Japan into trading with the outside world. This opened up all kinds of turmoil within the various clans. In 1866, the Satsuma and Choshu domains (nursing a 250-year old grudge over their defeats against UsefulNotes/TokugawaIeyasu in the Battle of Sekigahara)[[note]]That said, other domains (particularlly their samurai / ronin) played major roles as well (Such as Tosa and Hizen), but they tend to be OutOfFocus in popular history[[/note]] allied and built the foundation of the Meiji restoration, challenging the Tokugawa clan to restore power to the emperor. The previous Emperor passed away in 1867, allowing Meiji (Mutsuhito) to take the throne. This is of course, TheThemeParkVersion, the reality is far more complex. [[note]]For example, Satsuma and Choshu were not on the best of terms during the initial stages of the Meiji Restoration. After the Meiji government was established, their relationship would remain frictious, which evolved into a full-blown InterserviceRivalry between the later Imperial Army and the Navy.[[/note]]

* While most of ''Manga/{{Ooku}}: The Inner Chambers'' takes place in the JidaiGeki, Volume 13 starts to slide into the early parts of the Meiji Restoration, namely, Commodore Perry appears to force open the ports. Volume 18 is specifically when Meiji assumes the throne and the Tokugawa Shogunate is abolished. The final volume consists of the last remaining Tokugawas negotiating for a peaceful transfer of Edo Castle, and the epilogue takes place four years into the Meiji era.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0d9a9801_fe57_41cd_8334_575399ee3530.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Emperor Meiji himself]]

** Saito Hajime (formerly of UsefulNotes/TheShinsengumi) views the police force he now works with as successors to his fallen comrades due to the Shinsengumi's original job of protecting the peace and so is [[BerserkButton some]][[TranquilFury what]] displeased when someone goes around gleefully slaughtering them.

** '' Ryōmaden'' (龍馬伝, 2010), an updated, modernized retelling of the story of Sakamoto Ryōma (portrayed by Masaharu Fukuyama), with the impoverished ronin-turned-Mitsubishi founder [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iwasaki_Yatar%C5%8D Iwasaki Yataro]] (portrayed by Teruyuki Kagawa) serving as {{Deuteragonist}}.[[note]]The series can arguably serve as a ''prequel'' of sorts to the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' films, having been produced by the same director, and [[ProductionPosse a bulk of its cast participating]]. Takeru Sato, previously known as ''Series/KamenRiderDenO'', played assassin Okada Izo, who will subsequently lead the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' films[[/note]]

** ''Ryōma ga Yuku'' (竜馬がゆく, 1968), one of the first about the foremost Restoration revolutionary [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakamoto_Ry%C5%8Dma Sakamoto Ryoma]] (portrayed by Kinya Kitaoji)

* While most of ''Manga/{{Ooku}}: The Inner Chambers'' takes place in the JidaiGeki, Volume 13 starts to slide into the early parts of the Meiji Restoration, namely, Commodore Perry appears to force open the ports. Volume 18 is specifically when Meiji assumes the throne and the Tokugawa Shogunate is abolished (in a {{Cliffhanger}}, no less).

* The Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} MobilePhoneGame ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' has hosted four (as of 2020) ''GUDAGUDA'' events--two of which directly involved the backdrop of the Meiji Restoration and a few of its major characters (such as Shinsengumi captains Okita and Hijikata, as well as Restoration rebels Sakamoto and Okada). Surprisingly for a gag sub-event, they treat the conflict of the time period quite respectfully--or as respectfully as something stuffed with AnachronismStew can get.

-->--'''''The New York Times''''', "The Funeral Ceremonies of Meiji Tenno", October 13th 1912

* ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'', a Meiji-era spinoff duology of the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series, starring Phoenix Wright's (Ryuuichi Naruhodou) IdenticalGrandfather Ryunosuke Naruhodo. The games take place in a time where the profession of a "defense attorney" is still a fresh one in Japanese society. Each games' first case take place in Meiji-era Japan, while the rest of the duology takes place in VictorianLondon, where Ryunosuke meets, among other characters, the famed Franchise/SherlockHolmes (or rather, [[WritingAroundTrademarks Herlock Sholmes]]). Despite this, the themes of globalization, industralization and relationships between both empires play a prominent role throughout the entire story.
* The Nasuverse MobilePhoneGame ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' has hosted four (as of 2020) ''GUDAGUDA'' events--two of which directly involved the backdrop of the Meiji Restoration and a few of its major characters (such as Shinsengumi captains Okita and Hijikata, as well as Restoration rebels Sakamoto and Okada). Surprisingly for a gag sub-event, they treat the conflict of the time period quite respectfully--or as respectfully as something stuffed with AnachronismStew can get.

[[folder:Visual Novel]]

** ''Series/{{Atsuhime}}'' (篤姫, 2008), about the Lady [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenshō-in Tenshō-in]] (portrayed by Aoi Miyazaki), a Satsuma princess who married into the Tokugawa Shogunate, and had to traverse her ConflictingLoyalty between her family and her domain. The second Taiga drama to have a page here on TVTropes.

* ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'', a Meiji-era spinoff duology of the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series, starring Phoenix Wright's (Ryuuichi Naruhodou) IdenticalGrandfather Ryunosuke Naruhodo. The game is described as taking place in a time where the profession of a "defense attorney" is still a fresh one in Japanese society. While the game's first case takes place in Meiji-era Japan, the rest of the game takes place in VictorianLondon, where Ryunosuke meets, among other characters, the famed Franchise/SherlockHolmes (or rather, [[WritingAroundTrademarks Herlock Sholmes]]).

** ''Segodon'' (西郷どん, 2018), an updated, modernized retelling of Saigo Takamori's life story. Coincidentally, Toshiyuki Nishida (Saigo in ''Tobu ga Gotoku'') serves as the series' narrator. Creator/KenWatanabe also plays a supporting role as [[BigGood Saigo's lord]], Shimazu Nariakira.