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Quick answer: The best books on the Meiji Restoration explain how Japan transformed itself from a feudal society into a modern power after 1868. Start with The Making of Modern Japan by Marius B. Jansen, Emperor of Japan by Donald Keene, A Modern History of Japan by Andrew Gordon, The Last Samurai by Mark Ravina and The Autobiography of Yukichi Fukuzawa.
In 1853, American warships under Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Edo Bay and forced Japan, which had limited foreign contact for over two centuries, to open its ports. The shock helped bring down the Tokugawa shogunate. In 1868, rebels restored power in the name of the young Emperor Meiji. Over the next few decades Japan abolished the samurai class, built railways and factories, created a modern army and navy, adopted a constitution and became a world power, defeating China in 1895 and Russia in 1905. It was one of the fastest transformations in history. The books below include the great histories, biographies, memoirs and novels of the era.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Making of Modern Japan | Marius B. Jansen | History | The standard history |
| Emperor of Japan | Donald Keene | Biography | The Meiji emperor |
| A Modern History of Japan | Andrew Gordon | History | A clear overview |
| The Meiji Restoration | W. G. Beasley | History | Serious readers |
| The Last Samurai | Mark Ravina | Biography | Saigō Takamori |
| Breaking Open Japan | George Feifer | Narrative history | Commodore Perry |
| Sakamoto Ryōma and the Meiji Restoration | Marius B. Jansen | Biography | A famous rebel |
| Inventing Japan | Ian Buruma | History | A short overview |
| The Autobiography of Yukichi Fukuzawa | Yukichi Fukuzawa | Autobiography | A modernizer’s life |
| Musui’s Story | Katsu Kokichi | Autobiography | A samurai’s life |
| Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan | Lafcadio Hearn | Travel writing | A foreign observer |
| The Last Shogun | Ryōtarō Shiba | Historical novel | Fiction lovers |
| Kokoro | Natsume Sōseki | Classic novel | Literary readers |
| The Wild Geese | Mori Ōgai | Classic novel | Short classics |
| Heart of a Samurai | Margi Preus | Middle-grade novel | Ages 10 and up |
1. The Making of Modern Japan by Marius B. Jansen
Jansen’s history covers Japan from 1600 to the late 20th century, with a superb account of the Meiji era. It’s authoritative and readable.
2. Emperor of Japan by Donald Keene
Keene’s huge biography of Emperor Meiji follows the man at the center of Japan’s transformation. It’s detailed and fascinating.
3. A Modern History of Japan by Andrew Gordon
Gordon’s history from Tokugawa times to the present is widely used in universities. It’s balanced and well organized.
4. The Meiji Restoration by W. G. Beasley
Beasley’s classic study explains the politics of the restoration in detail. It’s the standard scholarly account.
5. The Last Samurai by Mark Ravina
Ravina tells the life of Saigō Takamori, who helped lead the restoration and then died rebelling against the new government in 1877. It’s the real story behind the film.
6. Breaking Open Japan by George Feifer
Feifer tells the story of Perry’s 1853 expedition from both American and Japanese sides. It’s vivid and balanced.
7. Sakamoto Ryōma and the Meiji Restoration by Marius B. Jansen
Jansen tells the story of Sakamoto Ryōma, a samurai who helped bring down the shogunate and was assassinated in 1867.
8. Inventing Japan by Ian Buruma
Buruma’s short history covers Japan from Perry’s arrival in 1853 to 1964. It’s sharp, readable and ideal for beginners.
9. The Autobiography of Yukichi Fukuzawa by Yukichi Fukuzawa
Fukuzawa, a leading thinker of the era who founded Keio University, describes his journey from a samurai family to championing Western learning. It’s lively and humorous.
10. Musui’s Story by Katsu Kokichi
This rare autobiography of a low-ranking samurai in the 1800s is funny, rowdy and full of everyday detail. It shows the world the Meiji era swept away.
11. Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan by Lafcadio Hearn
Hearn, who settled in Japan in 1890, described its customs and folklore with affection. It’s a classic of Western writing about Meiji Japan.
12. The Last Shogun by Ryōtarō Shiba
Shiba, one of Japan’s most popular historical novelists, tells the story of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun. It’s thoughtful and engaging.
13. Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki
Set at the end of the Meiji era, Sōseki’s novel explores loneliness and change through a young man’s friendship with an older mentor. It’s a masterpiece.
14. The Wild Geese by Mori Ōgai
Set in Tokyo in 1880, this short novel follows a moneylender’s mistress who dreams of a different life. It’s delicate and moving.
15. Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus
Based on the true story of Manjirō, a Japanese fisherman rescued by an American ship in 1841, this Newbery Honor novel shows the clash and connection of two cultures.
Tips for Reading About the Meiji Restoration
- Start with Buruma or Gordon. Both give you the big picture clearly.
- Learn the background. Perry’s arrival in 1853 set everything in motion.
- Read a life. Ravina’s Saigō and Keene’s Meiji make it personal.
- Read Japanese voices. Fukuzawa and Katsu Kokichi are surprisingly fun.
- Try the novels. Kokoro shows the emotional cost of change.
- Watch the film critically. The Last Samurai is very loosely based on history.
Related: best books on the Opium Wars and best books on Pearl Harbor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book about the Meiji Restoration?
The Making of Modern Japan by Marius B. Jansen is the standard history, and Inventing Japan by Ian Buruma is a short, readable introduction.
When was the Meiji Restoration?
The restoration of imperial rule took place in 1868, and the Meiji era lasted until the emperor’s death in 1912.
Is The Last Samurai a true story?
No. The film is fictional, but it was loosely inspired by Saigō Takamori’s Satsuma Rebellion of 1877. Mark Ravina’s biography tells the real story.