The 明治 were leading figures in the Meiji Restoration, when the Emperor of Japan retook power from the Tokugawa shoguns. Some of them went on to become Prime Ministers of Japan.

1. Okubo Toshimichi (1830–1878)
2. Kido Takayoshi (1833–1877)
3. Saigo Takamori (1827–1877)
4. Iwakura Tomomi (1825–1883)
5. Ito Hirobumi (1841–1909)
6. Kuroda Kiyotaka (1840–1900)
7. Matsukata Masayoshi (1835–1924)
8. Oyama Iwao (1842–1916)
9. Saigo Tsugumichi (1843–1902)
10. Yamagata Aritomo (1838–1922)
11. Inoue Kaoru (1835–1915)
12. Saionji Kinmochi (1849–1940)

See also

• shogun
• bakufu
• cloistered rule
• history of Japan
• lists of incumbents