Meiji Government

It is widely agreed that the Meiji Government was successful in modernizing Japan thanks to the increase in industrialization, military might, and the establishment of a strong, centralized government. Japan, not unlike Russia, was probably one of the most motivated countries in the world when it came to modernization and westernization. This can be verified by just taking a minute to look at the long list of achievements made by the Meiji Government, which includes rapid industrialization, the amazing military confidence Japan came to possess, and their ability to create such a strong government in so little time.
One of Japan’s most outstanding achievements was how in only about fifty years they were able to transition from complete isolation to a fully industrialized nation. One of the factors that allowed Japan’s success was their gross overpopulation. Due to the fact that medical facilities and quality of life improved after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, people were able to have more children, causing the population to boom. “Japanese industry benefited from the overcrowded countryside, which was a major source of cheap labor” (p. 84) With this new abundant source of cheap labor, the Japanese government was able to build and operate factories and textile mills. Unfortunately due to the risk of runaway inflation, the government was forced to sell the factories to large firms such as Mitsubishi, who would later come to dominate the Japanese economy.
Japan was also able to, in a short period of time, build a strong, modern military so great it was able to survive two wars, one against the mighty Russia.