The Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868, marked a pivotal turning point in Japanese history. It ended over two centuries of feudal rule under the Tokugawa shogunate, transitioning Japan to a modern, industrialized state. The restoration was significant because it centralized political power, adopting Western technologies, military practices, and governmental systems. This modernizing effort led to Japan becoming a major world power, enabling it to assert itself militarily and economically on the global stage. The cultural transformations during this era also shaped contemporary Japanese identity, fostering nationalism and moving away from isolationism toward international engagement.