Shift to Metric system (jan 1, 1886 – dec 31, 1886)
Description:
Japan recognized the need for a radical change in attitude from their Eastern principles, and the government wanted to accept all the major assumptions of Western science so that the Japanese could work with it more easily. As a result, they adopted the Western clock, switched to the Metric system, and came to understand the importance of concepts like universal laws and measurability. The move understandably angered many Japanese citizens, but Western systems instantly became useful tools for businesses, allowing them to schedule shifts and work on railway timetables. Eventually, this change would bring Japan in line with the rest of the world and skipped a possible translation barrier. The change also symbolized Japan's willingness to accept the new, "rational" thought of the industrial era and is one of the best examples of how unified the country was under its emperor and government during the Meiji era.
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Japan Science
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