Sex appeal (broadly defined!), money and power: not only do individuals often strive for more of these things, governments need them even more so. The "sex appeal" was the Meiji emperor. The essential "money" component was to increase revenues (taxes) and to reduce expenditures by such methods as phasing out samurai stipends. Other aspects of "money" included the creation of a stable national currency (click on thumbnail image at left to see Meiji-era paper money).

"Power" initially meant creating a police and military force loyal to the central government. (Click on thumbnail image at right to see an artist's conception of the early imperial army.) Later steps included eliminating the domains and instituting nation-wide military conscription. It took the Meiji government about ten years to get itself firmly established.