So, what were the consequences of this revolution? Well, for starters, Japan became a major world power, which was like a big "ta-da!" moment for the country. They started industrializing, modernizing, and generally becoming the cool kid on the block. They even got their own version of the Western calendar, which was like the ultimate symbol of coolness (I mean, who needs a lunar calendar when you can have a Gregorian calendar, am I right?).
PPT - Meiji Restoration PowerPoint Presentation, free download - ID:4171367
But, on a more serious note, the Meiji Restoration also brought about a lot of social change, including the abolition of feudalism and the emancipation of women (okay, maybe not completely, but it was a start!). It was like Japan was trying to play catch-up with the rest of the world, and, in many ways, they succeeded. So, the next time you hear someone say, "Japan is so traditional and conservative," you can be all like, "Uh, nope, they've got a pretty radical history, thank you very much!"
And, finally, the Meiji Restoration also had a profound impact on Japan's culture, with the introduction of Western art, literature, and music. It was like a big cultural exchange program, where Japan was all like, "Hey, we'll take some of your jazz and rock 'n' roll, and you can have some of our manga and anime." And, let's be real, who wouldn't want to trade some Edo-era woodblock prints for a few CDs by The Beatles?
