Between 1968 and 1912, Japan was going through a reform called the Meiji Restoration to make the country as strong as Western countries. It had caused changes in many parts of Japan such as society, government, military, etc. Some of these changes can still be seen in Japanese society today, such as emperors being honored by Japanese citizens and seen as a special figure. Since this reform had a great impact on Japan's development, it can be considered a very important part of Japanese history. This study will seek to answer the question: To what extent did the Meiji Restoration succeed in reforming and strengthening Japan? To answer the question, the investigation will analyze the military reform and economic reform caused by the Meiji Restoration. Furthermore, the investigation will analyze some counterarguments against the Meiji Restoration. When these events are analyzed, historical evidence and historiography from books and websites are also provided. Section B: Evidence Summary The Choshu and Satsuma clans reunited to defeat the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period. This was the Boshin War. (1868-69) The Tokugawa shogunate was defeated and Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito) became the new leader of Japan. The Meiji Restoration began in 1868 and ended with the death of the emperor in 1912. The new government attempted to reform Japan through the Meiji government which means "enlightened government" and they tried to reform Japan and make it as strong as Western countries. The emperor announced his goals and objectives of the Meiji Restoration through the Charter oath: With this oath, we set ourselves the goal of establishing broad-based national wealth and formulating a constitution and laws deliberative will be widely disseminated...... half of the document ......ity of Hawaii Press, 1995) pg. 20McLaren Wallace, Walter. Allen & Unwin, 1916) “The Meiji Restoration and Modernization.” Columbia University. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1750_meiji.htm (accessed February 12, 2014). Herbert, E. The Emergence of Japan as a Modern State: Political and Economic Problems of the Meiji Period (New York: International Secretariat, Institute of Pacific Relations, 1940)Reischauer, Edwin Oldfather. The Japanese (USA: third printing, 1977)“Shinto history”. BBC Religions. British Broadcasting Company. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/history/history_1.shtml#section_4 (accessed 12 February 2014) Sims, Richard. Japanese Political History since the Meiji Restructuring 1868-2000 (New York: Macmillan Press Ltd, 2001)