Japan around the year 1905 became a very powerful military power capable of carving out its own empire. This power is still in place and very strong to this day. This is due to the Meiji Restoration and Japan's military development, the war with China, the Anglo-Japanese alliance and the Russo-Japanese War. The Meiji Restoration was a revolution within the Japanese political and social system from 1866 to 1869. This ended through the power of the Tokugawa shogun returning political power to the emperor rather than having the shogun control Japan. Prior to this period of the Meiji Restoration, most or all political power was held by the Tokugawa clan and in particular by the head of the clan, the Shogun. During the period of the Meiji Restoration the emperor moved from the ancient capital Kyoto to what is now known as modern Tokyo, which soon became the new capital. Although imperial power returned to the emperor, political power was transferred to a group of nobles and some former samurai. During this period, Japan (like almost all Asian countries) was forced to sign treaties with powerful Western countries such as America. These treaties were very unfair to the Japanese and gave the Western world some political and economic advantages. It was in Japan's interest at the time to put itself on a level playing field with Westernized countries, so drastic reforms of its military and economic status were necessary to achieve a level playing field. Japan decided that it would become a democratic state by ensuring equality for all people. In 1870 the Daimyo (feudal lords) had to return all their lands to the emperor and a new education system was introduced in addition to compulsory education. The improvement of the Japanese military was an important... middle of paper... and Asian power to clash with a Western rival, signed in 1902. This treaty simply stated that if either country (Japan or Great Britain) entered into war with another power, the ally would remain neutral unless the rival received aid from an ally. For example, if Japan went to war with Russia, Britain would have to be neutral and not contribute to either side, but if Russia received aid from an ally such as France or Germany, Britain would then have to come to help Japan. .historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/anglo-japanese-treaty-alliancehttp://www.firstworldwar.com/source/anglojapanesealliance1902.htmhttp://asianhistory.about.com/od/japan/f/What-Was-the -Meiji-Restoration.htm http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2130.html http://sinojapanesewar.com/http://asianhistory.about.com/od/warsinasia/a/First-Sino -Japanese-War.htm