Chōshū Domain

The Chōshū Domain was a powerful feudal region in western Japan during the Edo period, governed by a daimyo (feudal lord) under the Tokugawa shogunate. It played a key role in Japan's transition from isolation to modernization by supporting efforts to weaken the shogunate's control, promote reform, and modernize the military. Chōshū was instrumental in the fall of the shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule in 1868, helping shape modern Japan. Its influence extended beyond its borders, shaping national political and military developments during a pivotal era.