An Imperial Empire’s Awards

With legend stating Japan was founded in 600 B.C., the Pacific nation might be considered to be one of the oldest empires. As recent as the middle of the 19th century, however, Japan remained an isolated feudal state. During the period of 1600-1868 when many believed the Emperor ruled Japan, the “shoguns” of the Tokugawa clan held all the power. In this period, Japan was shut to foreigners and almost completely cut off from the outside world. Then, in 1852, an American naval expedition to Japan led by Commodore Perry made some inroads that forced the shoguns to admit foreign envoys and open ports to foreign trade. As a result of unequal trade treaties and seeing China weakened by western imperialism, Japan determined to replace the ruling “Shogunate.” In 1868, the Meiji Restoration gave direct political power back to the emperor and an elected Imperial Diet. During this period of sweeping political and social reform, the visionary elite dedicated itself to the achievement of power and