Meiji Financial Reform: Gateway to Empire

I will be researching Japanese financial innovations in the Meiji Era and analyzing how they contributed to colonial development. I will also compare the impact of the Bank of Japan to that of the Bank of England following the Glorious Revolution in 1688. Finally I will look at how the architecture of the Bank of Japan reflected a growing desire to Westernize and compete on a global playing field.

During the Meiji period, Japan looked to modernize its economy through the formation of a national bank as well as through more active monetary policies. My first page will focus on Finance Minister Matsukata Masayoshi and his efforts to deflate the national currency through a return to a silver-backed currency. My second page will provide an in depth look at the Bank of Japan, analyze its foundation and unique architectural style, and begin to draw conclusions about its impact.