Chapter 2
Astronomy from Meiji to Taisho Period
1868–1926
Abstract In 1868, the Meiji government was established by the Meiji Emperor. The
new government adopted a policy of modernization in political, economic, and
cultural affairs. The first step was to hire foreign instructors in a wide range of
affairs. The next step was to send Japanese researchers to Western countries.
Astronomy started with positional astronomy in the adoption of the Gregorian
calendar and the construction of a new observatory. The study of physics was
launched in the fields of geophysics, spectroscopy, and atomic physics. In the
early twentieth century, Shinjo Shinzo of Kyoto University and Ichinoe Naozo of
the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory (TAO) were greatly impressed by astrophysics
in their foreign studies. This was the initial phase of astrophysics in Japan.
2.1 Meiji-Taisho Period and Background of Astronomy
In 1868, the Tokugawa Shogun restored the reins of government to Emperor Meiji
(1852–1912). This is known as the Meiji Revolution. The Meiji government moved
the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo (formerly Edo), and it adopted a policy of
modernization in Japan, implementing a Western system in political and military
affairs, as well as social customs and culture. The Meiji period lasted 45 years, from
1868 to 1912, and the Taisho period 15 years, from 1912 to 1926. In these periods,
the groundwork for modern astronomy was laid by the government (Bartholomev
1989; Nakayama 1969).
2.1.1 Calendar Reform
In 1870, the Meiji government abandoned the Asakusa Observatory in Tokyo and
established Daigaku (大学, the Institute of Learning) in Kyoto instead of On’yo
Ryo. The Tsuchimikado family (土御門家) was put in charge of Tenmon-Rekido
(天文暦道, astrology and calendar-making) under the jurisdiction of Daigaku and
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
T. Kogure, The History of Modern Astronomy in Japan, Historical & Cultural
Astronomy, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57061-3_2
15
Astronomy from Meiji to Taisho Period
1868–1926
Abstract In 1868, the Meiji government was established by the Meiji Emperor. The
new government adopted a policy of modernization in political, economic, and
cultural affairs. The first step was to hire foreign instructors in a wide range of
affairs. The next step was to send Japanese researchers to Western countries.
Astronomy started with positional astronomy in the adoption of the Gregorian
calendar and the construction of a new observatory. The study of physics was
launched in the fields of geophysics, spectroscopy, and atomic physics. In the
early twentieth century, Shinjo Shinzo of Kyoto University and Ichinoe Naozo of
the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory (TAO) were greatly impressed by astrophysics
in their foreign studies. This was the initial phase of astrophysics in Japan.
2.1 Meiji-Taisho Period and Background of Astronomy
In 1868, the Tokugawa Shogun restored the reins of government to Emperor Meiji
(1852–1912). This is known as the Meiji Revolution. The Meiji government moved
the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo (formerly Edo), and it adopted a policy of
modernization in Japan, implementing a Western system in political and military
affairs, as well as social customs and culture. The Meiji period lasted 45 years, from
1868 to 1912, and the Taisho period 15 years, from 1912 to 1926. In these periods,
the groundwork for modern astronomy was laid by the government (Bartholomev
1989; Nakayama 1969).
2.1.1 Calendar Reform
In 1870, the Meiji government abandoned the Asakusa Observatory in Tokyo and
established Daigaku (大学, the Institute of Learning) in Kyoto instead of On’yo
Ryo. The Tsuchimikado family (土御門家) was put in charge of Tenmon-Rekido
(天文暦道, astrology and calendar-making) under the jurisdiction of Daigaku and
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
T. Kogure, The History of Modern Astronomy in Japan, Historical & Cultural
Astronomy, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57061-3_2
15