(明治) These were leading figures in the Meiji Restoration when the Japanese emperors 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