History UsefulNotes / MeijiRestoration

** ''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]]
** ''Katsu Kaishū'' (勝海舟, 1974), about [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsu_Kaish%C5%AB the eponymous]] Edo and Meiji period modernizer
** ''Kashin'' (花神, 1977), about [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cmura_Masujir%C5%8D Omura Masujiro]], a Restoration samurai who was eventually credited as the "Father of the Modern Japanese Army".
** ''Tobu ga Gotoku'' (翔ぶが如く, 1990), about the ill-fated [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saig%C5%8D_Takamori Saigo Takamori]], Meiji statesman and leader of the Satsuma Rebellion
** ''Tokugawa Yoshinobu'' (徳川慶喜, 1998), about [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Yoshinobu the last Tokugawa Shogun]], who was deposed by the Restoration
** ''Shinsengumi!'' (新撰組!, 2004), an ensemble story about [[UsefulNotes/TheShinsengumi the leaders of the titular organization]]
** ''Series/{{Atsuhime}}'' (篤姫, 2008), about the Lady [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenshō-in Tenshō-in]], 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.
** '' Ryōmaden'' (龍馬伝, 2010), an updated, modernized retelling of the story of Sakamoto Ryōma, with the impoverished ronin-turned-Mitsubishi founder [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iwasaki_Yatar%C5%8D Iwasaki Yataro]] 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.[[/note]]
** ''Yae no Sakura'' (八重の桜, 2013), about [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamamoto_Yaeko Yamamoto Yaeko]], a woman from the Shogunate-loyalist Aizu domain ravaged by the Meiji revolutionaries, who had to deal with rebuilding her life amidst modernization and changing societal norms.
** ''Hana Moyu'' (花燃ゆ, 2015), about [[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A5%AB%E5%8F%96%E7%BE%8E%E5%92%8C%E5%AD%90 Sugi Fumi]], the younger sister of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshida_Sh%C5%8Din Yoshida Shoin]], the initial intellectual genius of the Restoration--and how she had to deal and protect his students as they join the fray of the Revolution.
** ''Segodon'' (西郷どん, 2018), an updated, modernized retelling of Saigo Takamori's life story. Coincidentally, the same actor who portrayed Saigo in ''Tobu ga Gotoku'' serves as the series' narrator. Creator/KenWatanabe also plays a supporting role as [[BigGood Saigo's lord]], Shimazu Nariakira.
** ''Seiten wo Tsuke'' (青天を衝け, 2021), about [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibusawa_Eiichi Shibusawa Eiichi]], [[SelfMadeMan a former farm-boy who rose]] to being a retainer of the Tokugawa, and then becoming Minister of Finance for the Meiji government. His subsequent life being involved in the creation and normalization of modern business practices gave him the label of "Father of [[JapanTakesOverTheWorld Japanese Capitalism]]".

* ''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.

* The ''Rurouni Kenshin'' films released between 2012 and 2021 (''Film/RurouniKenshinTheBeginning, ''Film/RurouniKenshin'', ''Film/RurouniKenshinKyotoInferno'', ''Film/RurouniKenshinTheLegendEnds'' and ''Film/RurouniKenshinTheFinal'') serve as adaptations and relatively-more realistic takes on the era than the manga and anime.

* The ''Rurouni Kenshin'' films of 2012 and 2014 (''Film/RurouniKenshinTheBeginning, ''Film/RurouniKenshin'', ''Film/RurouniKenshinKyotoInferno'', ''Film/RurouniKenshinTheLegendEnds'' and ''Film/RurouniKenshinTheFinal'') serve as adaptations and relatively-more realistic takes on the era than the manga and anime.

* The ''Rurouni Kenshin'' films of 2012 and 2014 (''Film/RurouniKenshin'', ''Film/RurouniKenshinKyotoInferno'' and ''Film/RurouniKenshinTheLegendEnds'') serve as adaptations and relatively-more realistic takes on the era than the manga and anime.

* 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 when Emperor Komei dies and Meiji takes the throne, with the volume ending with the abolishment of the Tokugawa shogunate

* 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.

* ''VisualNovel/DaiGyakutenSaibanNaruhodouRyuunosukeNoBouken'', a Meiji-era spinoff of the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series, starring Phoenix Wright's (Ryuuichi Naruhodou) IdenticalGrandfather Ryuunosuke Naruhodou. 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 Ryuunosuke meets, among other characters, the famed Literature/SherlockHolmes.

** ''Seiten wo Tsuke'' (青天を衝け, 2021), about [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibusawa_Eiichi Shibusawa Eiichi]], [[SelfMadeMan a former farm-boy who rose]] to being a retainer of the Tokugawa, and then becoming MInistry of Finance for the Meiji government. His subsequent life being involved in the creation and normalization of modern business practices gave him the label of "Father of [[JapanTakesOverTheWorld Japanese Capitalism]]".

Before the 1870s, Japan was ruled by the Shogun, a military ruler, for all intents and purposes.

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' begins in the eleventh year of the Meiji period (1879) and among other things deals with ex-samurai trying to find their new place in the world in the period. To give a few examples, KidAppealCharacter Yahiko and his [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend friend]] Tsubame struggle with chains to the past early on (Yahiko tries to act like a traditional samurai, while Tsubame initially serves the descendent of a samurai family her own family served for generations). In addition, 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.

** ''Series/{{Atsuhime}}'' (篤姫, 2008), about the Lady [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenshō-in Tenshō-in]], a Satsuma princess who married into the Tokugawa Shogunate, and had to traverse her ConflictingLoyalty between her family and her domain.

** ''Segodon'' (西郷どん, 2018), an updated, modernized retelling of Saigo Takamori's life story. Coincidentally, the same actor who portrayed Saigo in ''Tobu ga Gotoku'' serves as the series' narrator.

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]]

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) 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]]

The Meiji period covers the entire reign of Emperor Meiji from the Restoration in 1867 to 1912, when Meiji was succeeded by his son Taishō (Yoshihito). The Meiji period saw Japan's adoption of a Western-style constitutional monarchy, modeled primarily on that of UsefulNotes/ImperialGermany. Nominally, the Emperor had a great deal of authority, but in reality power lay with the ''genro'', a group of aristocrats who ran the ministries and had brought about the Restoration in the first place. The ''genro'' established a Western-style title system, merging the Japanese nobility, which had previously been bifurcated into Imperial Court nobles (''kuge'') and feudal lords (''daimyō''), into a single class (''kazoku''), whose members sat as the upper house of the new Imperial Diet, the House of Peers. The lower house, the House of Representatives, had rather stringent age and property requirements for voting during the Meiji era, and its powers were limited. The Imperial Prime Minister and Government were theoretically appointed by the Emperor, but Emperor Meiji seems to have decided that for his own sake it would be better to allow the ''genro'' to decide who would take office when (a wise choice, seeing what happened to Wilhelm II in Germany).

* The Nasuverse MobilePhoneGame ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' has hosted three (as of 2018) ''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.

* ''Film/WhenTheLastSwordIsDrawn'' follows Yoshimura Kanichiro a [[ImpoverishedPatrician poor samurai]] and MasterSwordsman who joins the Shinsengumi shortly before the Boshin War.

** ''Atsuhime'' (篤姫, 2008), about the Lady [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensh%C5%8Din Tenshoin]], a Satsuma princess who married into the Tokugawa Shogunate, and had to traverse her ConflictingLoyalty between her family and her domain.

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) 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 war, 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) 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.[[/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) 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, the 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.[[/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) 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, the 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.[[/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) 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.

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' begins in the eleventh year of the Meiji period (1879) and among other things deals with ex-samurai trying to find their new place in the world in the period.
** To give a few examples, KidAppealCharacter Yahiko and his [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend friend]] Tsubame struggle with chains to the past early on (Yahiko tries to act like a traditional samurai, while Tsubame initially serves the descendent of a samurai family her own family served for generations). In addition, 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.

For roughly equivalent time periods, see TheGildedAge (United States), UsefulNotes/ImperialGermany, UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain (Great Britain, first three quarters), and TheEdwardianEra (Great Britain, last quarter)

** ''Segodon'' (西郷どん, 2018), an updated, modernized retelling of Saigo Takamori's life story.