The Constitutional Development of Japan 1853-1881 Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science, Ninth Series

This study follows the dramatic transformation of Japan from a feudal order to a fledgling constitutional monarchy during the pivotal years between the arrival of foreign ships and the first modern constitution. It examines how the shock of opening to the West, the rise of commerce, new scientific ideas, and shifting social and religious habits together ignited a nationwide call for reform. By weaving together imperial edicts, shogunal proclamations, and contemporary journals, the author paints a vivid picture of a nation grappling with external pressure and internal awakening.

The narrative begins with the unsettling appearance of Commodore Perry’s squadron in 1853, an event that rattled the Tokugawa regime and sparked a spontaneous, country‑wide agitation for change. It traces the early stirrings of public opinion, the weakening of the shogunate, and the initial steps toward dismantling feudal structures, setting the stage for the Meiji Restoration and the eventual drafting of Japan’s first constitution.