The Meiji Restoration occurred through a number of substantial changes to the old Tokugawa regime. The most significant of these changes, however, in permanently implementing this new regime, was the modernisation of the education system. The goal of the Restoration period was to learn from the western countries by borrowing the best technology available, whilst avoiding the mistakes traditionally associated with industrial development. With the power of hindsight, Japan successfully enriched the nation and strengthened their military.
To fully appreciate the improvement in education brought about by the Meiji Restoration, it is important to examine the state of affairs in the Tokugawa period, from 1600 to 1867. Albert Craig has commented on the transition into Restoration, saying, "Dissatisfactions were not the sole or even the chief internal factor determining the course of the Restoration. On the contrary ... the Restoration stemmed more from the strength of the values and intentions of the old society than from their weaknesses."
…
