Edo period ends as the Meiji era is proclaimed
- When
- 1868
- Where
- Tokyo; Japan
- Episodes
- 2
The Edo period, lasting from 1603 to 1868, ended as the Meiji era was proclaimed on 23 October 1868. This transition marked the restoration of imperial rule under Emperor Meiji, who had ascended the throne in 1867. The change in era name signified the end of the Tokugawa shogunate's 265-year rule and the beginning of a new political order.
Episodes
- End of the Edo Period
The Edo period ended in 1868 with the Meiji Restoration, restoring imperial rule.
- Proclamation of the Meiji Era
The era name was changed from Keiō to Meiji on 23 October 1868, marking the end of the Edo period.
Background and detail
Transition to Meiji. Emperor Meiji, born Mutsuhito, ascended the throne in 1867 following the death of Emperor Kōmei. The formal restoration of imperial rule occurred in January 1868, ending the shogunate's power. The era name was changed from Keiō to Meiji, meaning 'enlightened rule,' on 23 October 1868, coinciding with the renaming of Edo to Tokyo.
Political Context. The Meiji Restoration was a political event that restored imperial rule in 1868. The Charter Oath, presented to the emperor in April 1868, outlined the aims of the new government. The transition was supported by figures from southwestern domains, aiming to reassure non-Restorationist domains and boost morale for the new administration.
People involved
- Emperor Meiji · Emperor of Japan
- Tokugawa Yoshinobu · Shogun
Sources
- Meiji era Wikipedia
- Edo period Wikipedia
- Meiji Restoration Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-28
- Emperor Meiji Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-03
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.