Defense First
The major reason for the Restoration was not love for the emperor or dislike for the previous system of government, but xenophobia and the open threat of colonial subjugation triggered by the arrival of the “Black Ships.” The new modern national government sought growth to bolster its defense. It did so by establishing a joint currency, using samurai as managers to link rural entrepreneurs with capital, and diverting tax revenues from traditional sources (agriculture) towards new industry.
A slogan of the new government was “Japanese Spirit, Western Technology” and the government studied and implemented Western technologies in mining, rail, military spending, industry, agriculture, and banking. This sort of accommodation—use of the science and engineering of the West to safeguard against the greater, spiritual influence of the West—plays out in literature too. Some writers try on Western forms, but their intent is yet to further Japanese cultural values.
Samurai Lose Swords
Laws were put into effect to forbid the warrior hairstyle and carrying swords in public alienating the two million or so members of the samurai class.
Samurai were a warrior class, but their fealty to their lords and their role changed when their lords’ territories changed to centrally controlled prefectures. Where and where would they follow their code, the bushido?
It appears that samurai worked as a part of the state apparatus.
Would they all accept their new role?
Rapid Change
In April 1868, the Meiji government had the emperor issue “the five-article oath” which explicitly or implicitly promised deliberative assemblies; freedom of residence and occupation; abolition of hereditary classes; and full cultural contact with the West. By 1872, the government converted lordly domains to prefectures and established a conscription army. This caused small rebellions referenced in Oe Kenzaburo’s novel The Silent Cry (1967).
A pivotal moment was when the government refused to go to war with Korea, which seemed like a national preoccupation at least since Empress Jingu. Saigo Takamori, a symbol of martial might and the Meiji Restoration itself, resigned and launched a failed revolt, the Satsuma Rebellion, from his native Kagoshima.
The discontent was now channeled into political campaigns and parties were formed that campaigned for a written constitution and a national assembly. A major figure in this regard was Okubo Toshimichi, the head of the home ministry and also a native of Kagoshima. Okubo firmly believed in economic modernization and centralization of power in Tokyo.
In 1872-3, Okubo conducted an extensive tour of North America and Europe where he was especially impressed by England’s commercial energy and political stability. Okubo returned with a conviction that a written constitution would define political authority to provide protection against bureaucratic whim and so provide an incentive to cooperate with the Meiji government. Okubo’s emphasis was on a well-run state versus individual rights. In 1889, the Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi with a small group wrote the Meiji Constitution establishing emperor as head of the military with powers to form a Cabinet. His subjects had duties and qualified rights.