Over the decades, Japan has grown into a powerful and independent nation. They continue to progress and become more and more powerful. In this essay I will discuss Japan's path to success. How did Mitsuhito restore Japan? How has this restoration brought them long-term success? I will also talk about why Japan wanted to expand their land and what they needed to do to expand it? What happened during World War I? and what did they get out of it? What led to World War II? Why did Japan bomb Pearl Harbor? How did the war end in Japan? What was life like for women during the war? What was life like after the war? What is Japan like today? In 1615, Japan was ruled by Shogun during the Edo period. They used the Tokugawa as cover, but they had no political power. The Edo period was an era of peace and tranquility for the Japanese. There has been a rise in artistic and design culture. During that time, society progressed and cities became more prosperous. The Shogunate established a social structure composed of four classes. The Shogun used samurai to enforce laws and restrictions. The Samurai were warriors expert in combat, archery and martial arts. In 1868, the Tokugawa shogun was overthrown and the Samurai lost their power. Mitsuhito came to power and ruled as “Meiji,” which means enlightened. This then triggered the Meiji Restoration. At the time, Japan was facing an economic crisis and was not as advanced as other countries. They were unable to succeed because they lacked military techniques. Japan was disconnected from all other nations. The most industrialized nation at that time was England, and due to Japan's location, it did not have the resources. Japan's trade restrictions limited them. They were… halfway through the document… The Top 5 Causes of World War I,” About.com American History, April 8, 2014, accessed April 8, 2014, http://americanhistory.about .com/od/worldwari/ tp/causes-of-world-war-1.htm. no author, “The Treaty of Portsmouth and the Russo-Japanese War, 1904–1905,” History.state.gov, April 7, 2014, accessed April 7, 2014, http ://history.state.gov/milestones/1899 -1913/portsmouth-treaty.Kallie Szczepanski, “First Sino-Japanese War, 1894-95,” About.com, April 7, 2014, accessed April 7, 2014, http:/ /asianhistory.about.com/od/warsinasia /a/First-Sino-Japanese-War.htmNo Author, “The Meiji Restoration and Modernization,” Asia For Educators, April 12, 2014, accessed April 12, 2014, http:// afe.easia.columbia.edu/special /japan_1750_meiji.htm.Thayer Watkins, “Meiji Restoration/revolution,” www.sjsu.edu/, April 12, 2014, accessed April 13, 2014, http://www.sjsu.edu/ faculty/watkins/meiji.htm.