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Emperor Meiji

Emperor of Japan from 1867 until 1912

Emperor Meiji (明治天皇, Meiji-tennō, 3 November 1852–30 July 1912) was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession.[1] His reign lasted from 1867 until his death.[2]

Emperor of Japan
Meiji tenno1.jpg
Reign3 February 1867–30 July 1912
(45 years, 178 days)
Born(1852-11-03)3 November 1852
Mozu no Mimihara no naka no misasagi (Osaka)


Events of Meiji's lifeEdit

Meiji's reign was marked by many changes including the move of the Imperial court from Kyoto to Tokyo.


A timeline of major events includes:

Proclamation of Meiji Constitution
The Emperor in a formal session of the Diet.

After deathEdit

He died in Tokyo. A detailed account of the state funeral in the New York Times concluded with an observation: "The contrast between that which preceded the funeral car and that which followed it was striking indeed. Before it went old Japan; after it came new Japan."[7]

The spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife are honored at the Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) in Tokyo.[8]


Related pagesEdit


The chrysanthemum symbol of the Japanese emperor and his family.
  1. Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 明治天皇 (122); retrieved 2011-10-16.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric et al. (2002). "Traditional order of Tennō" in Japan encyclopedia, pp. 962-963.
  3. Nussbaum, "Kōmei Tennō" at p. 553.
  4. Nussbaum, "Meiji" at p. 624.
  5. Nussbaum, "Meiji Tennō" at p. 624.
  6. Nussbaum, "Taishō Tennō" at p. 929.
  7. "The Funeral Ceremonies of Meiji Tenno" reprinted from the Japan Advertiser [Article 8—No Title], New York Times. 13 October 1912; retrieved 2011-10-16.
  8., "Meiji Shrine"; Meiji jingū, "Introduction"; retrieved 2012-6-13.
  9. "The Mikado's Garter," New York Times. 28 July 1906; retrieved 2011-10-16.

Further readingEdit

  • Jansen, Marius. (1995). The Emergence of Meiji Japan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521482387; ISBN 9780521484053; OCLC 31515308
  • Keene, Donald. (2002). Emperor of Japan: Meiji and His World, 1852–1912. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231123402; OCLC 46731178

Other websitesEdit

  Media related to Meiji Emperor at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
Emperor Kōmei
Emperor of Japan

Succeeded by
Emperor Taishō