Bakumatsu

Bakumatsu refers to the late Edo period in Japan, specifically from the 1850s to the 1860s, marked by political turmoil and societal change. This era was characterized by the decline of the Tokugawa shogunate, which had ruled for over 250 years, and the rise of movements advocating for imperial rule. Foreign interactions, especially with Western powers, pressured Japan to open its borders, sparking debates about modernization and national identity. The Bakumatsu period culminated in the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which transformed Japan into a modern nation-state by restoring political power to the emperor and initiating significant reforms.