The Opposition Forces in Meiji Restoration in Japan (1868-1912)

The success of the Meiji Restoration has been extensively researched but its limitations or shizoku revolts have not been studied yet. Based on reliable documents, this article systematizes two types of anti-Meiji reform movements which are armed opposition revolts and the Freedom and People's Rights movement. Almost all armed opposition revolts failed in the first stage. In the following period, the Freedom and People's Rights movement to the Meiji oligarchy was led by Itagaki Taisuke, Goto Shojiro and Ueki Emori,who rejected rebellion.Instead, they organized a public campaign to establish an elected national assembly and the Meiji government responded to liberal movement's demands. The People's Rights movement achieved apparent effects, contributing to modernization of Japan in the late nineteenth century. Therefore, this article proposes some experiences of the reform process in Vietnam