The Meiji Restoration had already set Japan on a path of rapid modernization, but it was the Meiji Constitution that truly cemented the country's transformation. This groundbreaking document, inspired by European models, established a constitutional monarchy and introduced a British-style parliamentary system. The first Diet, comprising a House of Representatives and a House of Peers, convened to discuss critical issues like taxation, education, and foreign policy. This historic milestone marked a significant shift towards democracy and Westernization, solidifying Japan's emergence as a major world power.