Modernization is regarded as the process by which a traditional society turns into a modern one. The idea that Japan was a 'divine land' countered the Confucian presumption that only China was 'civilised and that surrounding countries like Korea and Japan were 'barbarian'. By the end of the Meiji Restoration, Japan, as "one of the world's largest produces of coal and exporters of copper" (Miocevich, 26), definitely possessed a progressive and prosperous economy. This was the second long-term cause of the restoration. All Rights Reserved. The Japanese Empire: Grand Strategy from the Meiji Restoration to the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Again, the early Meiji years had set the stage. [4] The Tokugawa shogunate came to its official end on 9November 1867, when Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the 15th Tokugawa shgun, "put his prerogatives at the Emperor's disposal" and resigned 10 days later. The tozama daimyo were less trusted, and their territories tended to be large but far from the political centre of Japan. During World War II (1939-45), Japan attacked nearly all of its Asian read more, Its hard to say how old Chinese culture actually is, but its one of the oldest that still has a presence in the modern world. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The military of Japan, strengthened by nationwide conscription and emboldened by military success in both the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, began to view themselves as a growing world power. The goals of this movement were encapsulated in the slogan, "revere the emperor, expel the barbarians," which was coined by Aizawa Seishisai (1782-1863) in his book New Theses (1825). The Making of the West, Peoples and Cultures. The Japanese responded with a surprise attack on the Russian Far East Fleet at Port Arthur in China on February 8, 1904, kicking off the Russo-Japanese War. Those who had been Tokugawa retainers before the Battle of Sekigahara were called fudai daimyo, while those who had not were called tozama daimyo. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Learning Objectives Characterize the Edo Period in Japan Key Takeaways It was signed under duress when Commodore Matthew Perry, who used the tactics of gunboat diplomacy by menacingly sending his American battle fleet into Japanese waters. At the same time, they were expected to maintain their warrior pride and military preparedness, which led to much frustration in their ranks. Another reform was in the area of education. The last decades of the Edo period are referred to as the bakumatsu period. The Tokugawa feared rebellious daimyo might get support from abroad, so they limited contact with Korea and China, and all Europeans except for the Dutch were excluded. For the full article, see. The Meiji Restoration (1868-1912) was a period of modernization and industrialization in which Japan both embraced Western customs and sought to define its own sovereignty in the modern world. Kublai (also spelled Kubla or Khubilai) relegated his Chinese subjects read more, Hirohito (1901-1989) was emperor of Japan from 1926 until his death in 1989. Coal was needed for steamships and railroads. [9], Emperor Meiji announced in his 1868 Charter Oath that "Knowledge shall be sought all over the world, and thereby the foundations of imperial rule shall be strengthened. The reforms enacted during the Meiji emperors rule brought about the modernization and Westernization of the country and paved the way for Japan to become a major international power. In addition, the new government carried out policies to unify the monetary and tax systems, with the agricultural tax reform of 1873 providing its primary source of revenue. When did the Meiji Restoration end? Why did Japan cut itself off from the world? [7] A privy council composed of the Meiji genro, created prior to the constitution, advised the emperor and wielded actual power. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Meiji Restoration basically took Japan from a feudal system to becoming a fully industrialized country in just a few decades. This era in Japanese history was a momentous epoch that saw the transformation of feudal Japan into a modern industrialized state with a parliamentary form of government and its emergence as a world power through military It was developed in the context of the Cold War as an alternate theory of development to the Marxist one offered by China and the Soviet Union. In the first half of the 19th century, the anti-Tokugawa movement largely developed in areas controlled by tozama daimyo: Most of these activists came from low-ranking warrior families, although some members of the court nobility also played an important role including Iwakura Tomomi (1825-1888) and Saionji Kinmochi (1849-1940). Squires, G. (2022, October 29). The Meiji Reformers needed to modernize Japan so as to make it competitive in a changing world in order to contend with Western forces. It marks the end of a sentence. The emperor then took the reign name "Meiji" meaning "enlightened rule," Hence the title, "Meiji Restoration" of 1868. Meiji Restoration, in Japanese history, the political revolution in 1868 that brought about the final demise of the Tokugawa shogunate (military government)thus ending the Edo (Tokugawa) period (1603-1867)and, at least nominally, returned control of the country to direct imperial rule under Mutsuhito (the emperor Meiji ). Those men were motivated by growing domestic problems and by the threat of foreign encroachment. The early goals of the new government were expressed in the Charter Oath (April 1868), which committed the government to establishing deliberative assemblies and public discussion, to a worldwide search for knowledge, to the abrogation of past customs, and to the pursuit by all Japanese of their individual callings. The Tokugawa government had been founded in the 17th century and initially focused on reestablishing order in social, political and international affairs after a century of warfare. Meiji revolution and nationalism 1 of 21 Meiji revolution and nationalism May. Meiji Restoration, in Japanese history, the political revolution in 1868 that brought about the final demise of the Tokugawa shogunate (military government)thus ending the Edo (Tokugawa) period (16031867)and, at least nominally, returned control of the country to direct imperial rule under Mutsuhito (the emperor Meiji). It is desirable that the representatives of the treaty powers recognize this announcement. How did innovations during the Industrial Revolution change life in Great Britain in the 19th century? In a wider context, however, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 came to be identified with the subsequent era of major political, economic, and social changethe Meiji period (1868-1912)that brought about the modernization and Westernization of the country. Several clans, dissatisfied with the Tokugawa regime, wanted to reinstate the imperial line to power. Fall of the Ming Dynasty Near the end of read more, Kublai Khan was the grandson of Genghis Khan and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in 13th-century China. The Meiji Restoration (1868) ended the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns and restored the power of the imperial family. [citation needed], The Meiji oligarchy that formed the government under the rule of the Emperor first introduced measures to consolidate their power against the remnants of the Edo period government, the shogunate, daimys, and the samurai class. The American challenge to Japan turned out to be the trigger for the Meiji Restoration, the broad-brush descriptor for Japan's radical remaking in the image of its would-be conquerors. In 1868, the Emperor Meiji (the name means "enlightened rule") replaced the Tokugawa Shogun as leader. The Meiji period ( Meiji-jidai) was an era in Japanese history that extended from September 1868 through July 1912. Squires, Graham. Together, these three long-term causes led to the development of a movement that opposed both continued Tokugawa rule and the opening of the country. The bakufu forces were defeated in the Battle of Toba-Fushimi south of Kyoto. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. The government sent officials such as the samurai to monitor the work that was being done. The latter concern had its origins in the efforts by Western powers to open Japan, beginning in the 1850s after more than two centuries of near isolation, and the fear that Japan could be subjected to the same imperialist pressures that they observed happening in nearby China. One of the major riots was the one led by Saig Takamori, the Satsuma Rebellion, which eventually turned into a civil war. A vibrant urban culture emerged centered in Kyoto, Osaka and Edo (Tokyo), catering to merchants, samurai and townspeople rather than to nobles and daimyo, the traditional patrons. Updates? To understand the Meiji Restoration, rather than approaching it from a theoretical perspective, it is best to think of it as an event that had both causes and consequences that were unique to Japan. The Japanese economy grew significantly during the Tokugawa period. Squires, Graham. Although the Meiji Restoration had momentous consequences, it was not an especially violent event. Hunt, Lynn, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, R. Po-chia Hsia et al.. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%88%91%E3%80%85%E5%9B%A3#:~:text=%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%83%96%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A4%E3 . The oligarchs also endeavored to abolish the four divisions of society. The peace and stability of the Tokugawa period, and the economic development it fostered, set the stage for the rapid modernization that took place after the Meiji Restoration. The Meiji Restoration , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Renovation, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Eds. 2. 712-13. How did the Meiji Restoration end feudalism in Japan? . Most of them were appointed through government approval with two or three years contract, and took their responsibility properly in Japan, except some cases. In a wider context, however, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 came to be identified with the subsequent era of major political, economic, and social changethe Meiji period (1868-1912)that brought about the modernization and Westernization of the country. Among other accomplishments, during the Meiji period Japan adopted a constitution and a parliamentary system, instituted universal education, built railroads and installed telegraph lines, and established strong army and navy forces. While the formal title of samurai was abolished, the elitist spirit that characterized the samurai class lived on. https://www.worldhistory.org/Meiji_Restoration/. The Tokugawa had been able to adopt this policy partly because Japan was far from Europe and also because, in the 17th century, the level of technology in Japan and foreign countries was more or less the same. The Meiji Restoration was a chain of events, triggered by an internal crisis and strong anti-Western sentiments, that ended the Edo period and thus the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. There were fewer subsequent samurai uprisings and the distinction became all but a name as the samurai joined the new society. They increased pressure on Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun, stressing the shogunate's failure to protect Japanese interests. Omissions? Despite the value they provided in the modernization of Japan, the Japanese government did not consider it prudent for them to settle in Japan permanently. That was followed, after the end of the fighting, by the dismantling of the old feudal regime. Vol. The Meiji rule ended with the death of the emperor on July 30, 1912, which also marked the end of the era of the genro. The Diplomat SHARE Apr 15, 2018 For Japan, 2018 marks the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration; the name given to the events of 1868 that saw the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate (or. [3], Some shogunate forces escaped to Hokkaid, where they attempted to set up a breakaway Republic of Ezo; however, forces loyal to the Emperor ended this attempt in May 1869 with the Battle of Hakodate in Hokkaid. Melvin This January marks the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration in Japan. Vol. Meiji Restoration begins - HISTORY THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 03 1868 January 03 Meiji Restoration begins In an event that heralds the birth of modern Japan, patriotic samurai from. The emperor was only 14 at the time, and the samurai used their influence over him to politically restructure Japan. The Meiji Restoration accelerated the industrialization process in Japan, which led to its rise as a military power by the year 1895, under the slogan of "Enrich the country, strengthen the military" (, fukoku kyhei). Japan underwent a vast array of changes after the Meiji Restoration. However, after the shogunates brutal repression of a Christian rebellion on the Shimabara Peninsula in 1637-38, Christianity was forced underground. In 1868, the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan was overthrown as a result of the Boshin war, heralding the Meiji Restorationor the more daring Meiji Revolutionwhich ushered in a period of intense scientific, cultural, political, and economic change in Japan. Suspicious of foreign intervention and colonialism, the Tokugawa regime acted to exclude missionaries and eventually issued a complete ban on Christianity in Japan. This greatly disrupted the clearly defined class system which the bakufu had envisaged, partly leading to their eventual downfall. These books contained accounts of the founding of the ancient Japanese state by emperors, who were described as being descended from the gods. During the Meiji Period, which ended with the emperors death in 1912, the country experienced significant social, political and economic changeincluding the abolition of the feudal system and the adoption of a cabinet system of government. One of the earliest slogans of the Restoration era was fukoku kyohei (rich country, strong army); in 1872 Japan had begun drafting men into the army; and in 1874, it had sent 3,000 troops to Taiwan, for a short, victorious engagement with aboriginal groups who had killed some 54 shipwrecked Okinawans. The study of history would play a key role in this process. This rebellion was, however, put down swiftly by the newly formed Imperial Japanese Army, trained in Western tactics and weapons, even though the core of the new army was the Tokyo police force, which was largely composed of former samurai. Answer. With this, industrial zones grew enormously, and there was a massive migration to industrializing centers from the countryside. Consequently, the title of Emperor must be substituted for that of Taikun, in which the treaties have been made. Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) Background End of the Shogunate Restoration of Imperial Power Modernization of Japan Westernization of Japan Comeback of Traditional Values Japan on the International Scene Meiji Jingu Shrine Japan was a proud and feudal country for many centuries, until confrontation with powerful western countries. Meiji Restoration, Overthrow of Japan's Tokugawa shogunate ( see Tokugawa period) and restoration of direct imperial rule (through the Meiji emperor) in 1868. Later, in 1874, the samurai were given the option to convert their stipends into government bonds. Background The first action, taken in 1868 while the country was still unsettled, was to relocate the imperial capital from Kyto to the shogunal capital of Edo, which was renamed Tokyo (Eastern Capital). Peasants, distrustful of the new regime and dissatisfied with its agrarian policies, also took part in revolts that reached their peak in the 1880s. The Meiji Restoration was a political and social revolution in Japan from 1866 to 1869 that ended the power of the Tokugawa shogun and returned the Emperor to a central position in Japanese politics and culture. World History Encyclopedia. Following his victory in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, however, Tokugawa Ieyasu swiftly consolidated power from his heavily fortified castle at Edo (now Tokyo). To strengthen the government, Ii advocated linking the imperial court and bakufu through the marriage of the emperor's sister to the shogun. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. When did the Meiji Restoration end? Sakuradamon IncidentUnknown Artist (Public Domain). Students also attended courses in "moral training" which reinforced their duty to the Emperor and to the Japanese state. This period also saw Japan change from being a feudal society to having a market economy and left the Japanese with a lingering influence of Modernity.[3]. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Emperor Meiji's samurai advisers from the western clans believed that abolition of feudalism, clans and rigid class distinctions was an essential first step in . ): McAleavy, Henry. The Meiji Restoration is almost universally regarded as the dividing line between 'traditional' and 'modern' Japan. The samurai, members of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan, began as provincial warriors before rising to power in the 12th century with the beginning of the countrys first military dictatorship, known as the shogunate. December 29, 2017 3 minutes This January marks the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration in Japan. Below is the article summary. The fall of Edo in the summer of 1868 marked the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, and a new era, Meiji, was proclaimed. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The reform can be called a revolution in every aspect of Japanese society from 1868 to 1912. With the Dampatsurei Edict of 1871 issued by Emperor Meiji during the early Meiji Era, men of the samurai classes were forced to cut their hair short, effectively abandoning the chonmage (chonmage) hairstyle. The Meiji Constitution of 1889which remained the constitution of Japan until 1947, after World War IIwas largely written by It Hirobumi and created a parliament, or Diet, with a lower house elected by the people and a prime minister and cabinet appointed by the emperor. Many people believed it was essential for Japan to acquire western 'spirit' in order to become a great nation with strong trade routes and military strength. Members of the ruling samurai class had become concerned about the shogunates ability to protect the country as more Western countries attempted to open Japan after more than two hundred years of virtual isolation. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. In addition, the new regime opened the country once again to Western trade and influence and oversaw a buildup of military strength that would soon propel Japan onto the world stage. If the industrialists get favored by the Emperor for a period of five years, then you will get a 20% increase in Political Strength Interest Group. As the Tokugawa shogunate grew increasingly weak by the mid-19th century, two powerful clans joined forces in early 1868 to seize power as part of an imperial restoration named for Emperor Meiji. Shortly thereafter in January 1868, the Boshin War started with the Battle of TobaFushimi in which Chsh and Satsuma's forces defeated the ex-shgun's army. . There were Western attempts to end Japan's isolation and open it to trade as early as the 1790s, but these initiatives were rebuffed by the bakufu. A program of radical social reform . Furthermore, the new Japanese education . From the middle of the 17th century, Chinese Neo-Confucian ideas began to spread to Japan. They also closed off Japanese society to Western influences. https://www.britannica.com/event/Meiji-Restoration, Asia for Educators - The Meiji Restoration and Modernization, The abolition of the feudal system and all feudal class privileges, The construction of transport and communication systems. The texts involved were, of course, Chinese ones, but some scholars began to apply the same analytical techniques to the study of ancient Japanese works such as the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki. Answer (1 of 2): Politically, the shogun (military general, who was the real leader of Japan) was dissolved and replaced with the current diet (a parliamentary assembly). In its place, a democratic social and political system was established based on constitutional law over the course of about 20 years, and it led to significant economic reforms and growth. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. This set the stage for the Boshin War, a war between supporters of the court and the bakufu. The Meiji reform can be seen as a restoration only in the instilment of the imperial power. When the Czar set his sights on a warm-water port in the Pacific Ocean for trade and as a base for its growing navy, he zeroed in on the Korean and Liaodong peninsulas. Ii Naosuke (1815-1860), who was the most powerful bakufu official, tried to suppress this movement in a crackdown known as the Ansei Purge (1860). The period before the Meiji era was known as the Edo era (1603-1868), when Japan was ruled as a collection of fiefdoms under the Tokugawa shogunate, a military dictatorship that was based in Edo. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! "Meiji Restoration." Answer: I laughed so hard that they actually exist. In ancient times, power was mostly in the hands of the court aristocracy, and later in those of powerful warrior families like the Minamoto and Ashikaga. After the installation of the new government, headed by 14 year-old Meiji Emperor, Japan ended its centralised feudal system and began the process of modernising the nation . The Meiji Restoration saw the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, a new emperor take the throne, and a period of modernization and Westernization begin. The Russo-Japanese War was also a naval conflict, with ships exchanging fire in the read more, Born to a minor warlord in Okazaki, Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) began his military training with the Imagawa family. Did you know? [citation needed]. Modernisation theory also has a racial aspect because it equates modern societies with those of Europe and North America. Because of Japan's leaders taking control and adapting Western techniques it has remained one of the world's largest industrial nations. Please see the timeline above. Despite the help Japan received from other powers, one of the key factors in Japan's industrializing success was its relative lack of resources, which made it unattractive to Western imperialism. Just seven years after the Meiji period ended, a newly modernized Japan was recognized as one of the "Big Five" powers (alongside Britain, the United States, France and Italy) at the Versailles Peace Conference that ended World War I. The Genroku era (1688-1704) in particular saw the rise of Kabuki theater and Bunraku puppet theater, literature (especially Matsuo Basho, the master of haiku) and woodblock printing. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 toppled the long-reigning Tokugawa shoguns of the Edo period and propelled Japan into the modern era. C. 3rd ed. [13] Beginning with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which ushered in a new, centralized regime, Japan set out to "gather wisdom from all over the world" and embarked on an ambitious program of military . After the visit of Commodore Matthew Perry, the country was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties, which, as in China, gave Western nations special privileges in Japan. With the Act of Seclusion (1636), Japan was effectively cut off from Western nations for the next 200 years (with the exception of a small Dutch outpost in Nagasaki Harbor). C. 3rd ed. There were three main reasons for the Meiji Restoration: the bakuhan system introduced by the Tokugawa, foreign threats and demands for opening the country by industrialised nations, and the rise of imperial loyalism. A constitution, that was mainly based off of Western countries' constitution. . Being compelled to sign these treaties exposed the weakness of the Tokugawa government, and opponents accused it of failing to defend the country. The prestigious but largely powerless imperial court named Ieyasu as shogun (or supreme military leader) in 1603, beginning a shogunate dynasty that would rule Japan for the next two and a half centuries. The perpetrators announced the ouster of Tokugawa Yoshinobu (the last shogun)who by late 1867 was no longer effectively in powerand proclaimed the young Meiji emperor to be ruler of Japan. Gale. . [2] The main leaders of this were It Hirobumi, Matsukata Masayoshi, Kido Takayoshi, Itagaki Taisuke, Yamagata Aritomo, Mori Arinori, kubo Toshimichi, and Yamaguchi Naoyoshi. A large imperial army then surrounded the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), but negotiations resulted in the peaceful surrender of Edo Castle. Corrections? 11401158. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Russia Because Japan felt disrespected by the provisions of the Treaty of Portsmouth, it would most likely lead Japan to The first reform was the promulgation of the Five Charter Oath in 1868, a general statement of the aims of the Meiji leaders to boost morale and win financial support for the new government. The Meiji Restoration (, Meiji Ishin), referred to at the time as the Honorable Restoration (, Goisshin), and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Which nation was especially worried about Japan's victory in the Sino-Japanese War? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). A process that took Europe centuries. Please select which sections you would like to print: How did the Meiji Restoration change Japan? When did the Meiji Period End? To prevent Japan becoming a colony, it was necessary to overthrow the bakufu and create a new government. The Neo-Confucian theory that dominated Japan during the Tokugawa Period recognized only four social classessamurai warriors, artisans, farmers and merchantsand mobility between the four classes was officially prohibited. Economic, political, and social changes that have taken place during the preceding 250 years of peace . For comparison, this was more than 10 times the size of the French privileged class before the 1789 French Revolution. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2009. [24] Japan then closed and shut down tens of thousands of traditional old Shinto shrines in the Shrine Consolidation Policy and the Meiji government built the new modern 15 shrines of the Kenmu restoration as a political move to link the Meiji restoration to the Kenmu restoration for their new State Shinto cult. [1] Figures like Shimazu Nariakira concluded that "if we take the initiative, we can dominate; if we do not, we will be dominated", leading Japan to "throw open its doors to foreign technology.". Answer (1 of 2): Samurai from the Satsuma domain were instrumental in helping to bring about the Meiji restoration. Pierce Archive LLC/Buyenlarge via Getty Images. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. It fell in 1867-1868, and Emperor Meiji came to power. The year 2018 has seen many events in Japan marking 150 years since the Meiji Restoration. However, it is equally true that the majority of samurai were content despite having their status abolished. In it, the Tokugawa family, a warrior clan that had ruled Japan for more than 260 years, was overthrown by a group of political activists who proclaimed that their goal was to restore the imperial family to power. The land tax, which contributed to 78% of the nation's income in 1868, had decreased to 30% by 1897. 1868 - 1889. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Despite efforts at fiscal reform, mounting opposition seriously weakened the Tokugawa shogunate from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century, when years of famine led to increased peasant uprisings. Officers are being appointed by us to the conduct of foreign affairs. However, during the restoration, political power simply moved from the Tokugawa shogunate to an oligarchy consisting of these leaders, mostly from Satsuma Province (kubo Toshimichi and Saig Takamori), and Chsh Province (It Hirobumi, Yamagata Aritomo, and Kido Takayoshi). 23 November 2009, Last edited on 23 December 2022, at 15:50, all domains were now to be returned to the Emperor, Foreign government advisors in Meiji Japan, Willem Johan Cornelis, Ridder Huijssen van Kattendijke, Modernization of Japanese Military 18681931, "The Meiji Restoration and Modernization", "Meiji Restoration | Definition, History, & Facts", "The Meiji Restoration and Modernization | Asia for Educators | Columbia University", "A Race Across Japan to See its Last Original Castles", "Nagoya Castle's concrete keep to be demolished and replaced with traditional wooden structure", "Shinbutsu bunri the separation of Shinto and Buddhism", Essay on The Meiji Restoration Era, 18681889, A rare collection of Japanese Photographs of the Meiji Restoration, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meiji_Restoration&oldid=1129100427. 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