I believe that an important turning point in Japanese history was the "Meiji Restoration" of 1868. This is because the Meiji Restoration led to Japan's victory over the Qing Dynasty in the "Sino-Japanese War," and Japan became the dominant power, not only in Korea, but also in China, thus solidifying its entry into the ranks of the imperialist powers. The cause of the defeat of the great Qing power in the Sino-Japanese War was the difference between the "Westernization" of Japan and China. The "Meiji Restoration(明治維新)," or Westernization in Japan, aggressively introduced Western civilization and changed Japan's former customs and traditional culture, such as clothing and topknot (chonmage) hairstyles. It also brought about fundamental reforms to the political and social system, such as the establishment of equality among the four peoples, the abolition of feudal domains, the establishment of the Diet, and the enactment of the Constitution. On the other hand, the Westernization of the Qing Dynasty, the "Westernization Movement(洋務運動)," attempted to introduce only Western science and technology while maintaining the old traditional system, and did not reform feudal society or the despotic ruling system. However, the Meiji Restoration was successful because it was implemented with the national goal of comprehensive reforms, including changes in the social system, whereas the Yōmu Movement(洋務運動) was successful because it merely reformed industry and did not involve changes in the social system. The Westernization movement, on the other hand, was met with resistance from the reactionary forces of the dynasty because it merely reformed industry and did not involve any change in the social system. 　In conclusion, the difference between these two "Westernizations" was one of the reasons for Japan's victory in the Sino-Japanese War. Hence, I consider the "Meiji Restoration" to be the most important event.