Japan's Economic Transformation in the Meiji Era

This chapter explores Japan's complex transition to an industrialized economy during the Meiji period, focusing on administrative changes and the challenges posed by the Unequal Treaties. It discusses the impact of these treaties on trade, the imbalance of imports and exports, and the resulting social unrest due to economic strains in key industries. The chapter highlights the government's attempts to stabilize the economy and the rise of powerful merchant groups that reshaped Japan's economic landscape.