Meiji Restoration declared and the Boshin War opens in Japan

Background. Emperor Meiji ascended the throne in 1867 following the death of Emperor Kōmei. Tokugawa Yoshinobu had previously returned administrative power to the Imperial Court in November 1867. However, tensions remained between the shogunate and pro-Imperial domains like Satsuma and Chōshū, who sought to seize political power in the name of the Emperor, setting the stage for conflict in early 1868.

Restoration Proclamation. Sources differ on the exact date of the restoration proclamation. The Toba–Fushimi and Meiji Restoration accounts state that on 3 January 1868 the restoration of imperial rule was formally proclaimed, with Emperor Meiji declaring political power restored to the Imperial House. The Emperor Meiji and Boshin War accounts instead describe a ceremonial reading: after pro-Imperial elements seized the imperial palace in Kyoto on 3 January, the fifteen-year-old emperor read out a document on 4 January proclaiming the restoration, ending 265 years of Tokugawa shogunate rule. Yoshinobu initially agreed to the court's demands but later declared he would not be bound by the proclamation, calling for its repeal.

Military Conflict. Shogunate forces clashed with allied pro-Imperial forces near Fushimi and Toba on 27 January 1868, resulting in a decisive victory for the Imperial side. The Naval Battle of Awa occurred on 28 January, where the Shogunate was victorious against Satsuma. These battles were part of the broader Boshin War, a civil war fought between 1868 and 1869.

Diplomacy and Industry. Foreign ministers meeting in Hyōgo were persuaded to recognize the restored Emperor Meiji, with promises that harbours would be open in accordance with international treaties. In 1868, Thomas Blake Glover made a contract with the Nabeshima clan to develop Japan's first coal mine at Hashima Island, marking an early Meiji-era industrial development.