Emperor Meiji (???? Meiji-tenno; November 3; 1852 - July 30; 1912); or Meiji the Great (???? Meiji-taitei); was the 122nd Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession; reigning from February 3; 1867 until his death on July 30; 1912. He presided over a time of rapid change in the Empire of Japan; as the nation quickly changed from a feudal state to a capitalist and imperial world power; characterized by Japan's industrial revolution.

At the time of his birth in 1852; Japan was an isolated; pre-industrial; feudal country dominated by the Tokugawa Shogunate and the daimyo; who ruled over the country's more than 250 decentralized domains. By the time of his death in 1912; Japan had undergone a political; social; and industrial revolution at home and emerged as one of the great powers on the world stage.

Uchida Kuichi was the only photographer granted a sitting by the Emperor Meiji and in 1872 Uchida photographed the Emperor and Empress Haruko in full court dress and everyday robes. In 1873; Uchida again photographed the Emperor; who this time wore military dress; and a photograph from this sitting became the official imperial portrait.

Copies of the official portrait were distributed among foreign heads of state and Japanese regional governmental offices; but their private sale was prohibited. Nevertheless; many copies of the photograph were made and circulated on the market. Published in the Japanese book; Meiji Tenno gyoden (Tokyo: 1912). Pictures From History