In 1868 Japan threw itself open to Western influences, which saw the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the restoration of the Emperor.   However, it was not until 1 January 1873, after seven frustrating years, that Emperor Meiji was able to issue a decree whereby Japan was to abandon its ancient and complicated method of time measurement and adopt the simplified International system.  The Meiji Decree eliminated in an instant all of the practical application of these wonderful temporal hour Wadokei of Japan.

Familiarisation of Western Time

During the Keio days (1864-68) the people had become more accustomed to International time. On the 10th April of the 4th year of Keio (1868) when the very first issue of “Naigai Shimpo” – a Newspaper, appeared, a report is given as follows: “The English Minister Satow (Takanawa, Tokyo) left for Yokohama by a steamer at 1 o’clock on the 3^rd April.”

And in the 15th issue, reports: “On the 2nd April at 12.15 p.m. the sound of a gun was heard. Believing some foreign vessel had arrived off the coast of Yokohama and was firing a salute, we took a “Sleeve Clock” (Pocket Watch) and found that the intervals of firing were irregular; some 3 seconds, 1 second, 15 second or 30 seconds.”

In the early Meiji days a letter mentions: “Although the French was to meet the Governor of Tsushima tomorrow at No.8 Foreign Time as arranged yesterday, he would pay you his respects at No.l Foreign Time ———–“

In November of the 5th year of Meiji (A.D.1878) a proclamation was made by the Government and, in one of the Articles, mention is made of the change of the lunar calendar into the solar calendar to take place from January, and that the day was to be divided.

Encouragement to adopt Western Time

The Meiji government took significant steps in implementing its modernisation programme.  People were strongly encouraged to change, and considerable disquiet could be brought upon people who attempted to retain old customs.  This included the abandonment of temporal time Wadokei and led to many being scrapped.

Some Wadokei were converted to indicate 24 hour mean time (see example under Mechanical Wadokei / Shaku-dokei).

Further, there was a high level of marketing of the modernisation programme.   Some objects carried the slogan ‘bunmei kaika‘, a stimulating phrase of early Meiji translating as ‘civilization and enlightenment’  or ‘cultural enlightenment’.

Impact of Change from Temporal Time to Mean Time

All existing clocks and timepieces became obsolete and had to be converted or destroyed.  Before the Restoration the problems of measuring and dividing time had presented untold problems for Japanese clockmakers who responded, particularly during the 19th Century, with a variety of design and artistic execution unrivalled in the Western world.

The development and production in the Japanese clock industry that followed was divided mainly between two cities; Tokyo and Nagoya.  Factories in Tokyo specialised in pocket watches, wristwatches and table clocks, while wall clocks were produced in Nagoya.  In Tokyo production was concentrated in a small number of large factories, whilst in contrast, Nagoya had more than twenty finished clock manufacturers consisting of many small and medium-sized businesses.

There is no doubt that it was easy for a wadokei clockmaker in any district to understand the clock mechanisms and imitate the imported models.  It is worth noting that there were no clocks from Nagoya submitted to the 2nd Domestic Industrial Exhibition, held around 1880, though Motosuke Kaneko, Ichibei Kaneda, Tokusaburo Ono, Ichizo Mizuno and people from other districts exhibited their imitations of imported clocks.

An interesting Article of that Time:

In July 1892, Professor Thomas Egleston, New York,  wrote an article entitled “Ancient Methods of Recording Time in Japan”.  In it he states:

“Time in Japan, except in the remote towns, is now recorded as in Europe.  Foreign clocks and watches have now taken so firm a hold with the people that they will not be displaced.  The Yankee clock is to be seen everywhere and has driven out other timepieces.  The names of the largest American manufacturers, printed or engraved on glass, is one of the ornaments of the watchmakers shops in almost every large city in Japan.

The ancient methods are fast disappearing and with the introduction of the new, the old is laid aside.  The most interesting and valuable time-pieces constructed for keeping time by the ancient method can now be found in the curio shops and purchased for almost nothing, being discarded as no longer of use.  They are models ordinarily taken from the Dutch time pieces of the 17th century and are extremely interesting as relics of methods of recording time which have long ago disappeared and of escapements no longer used.  For a historical horological museum a collection could be made in Japan for almost nothing, as, except among the curio dealers of the large towns, thronged by European visitors, the finest ancient timepieces are of almost no value.”