A significant outcome of the Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868, was the rapid modernization and industrialization of Japan. The restoration ended the Tokugawa shogunate and restored imperial rule under Emperor Meiji. The government implemented reforms across various domains, including adopting Western technology, improving infrastructure, and transforming the military. Japan's shift from a feudal society to a modern nation-state allowed it to compete with Western powers, leading to Japan's emergence as a major global player. This period ultimately set the foundation for Japan's imperial ambitions and modernization that would take place throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.