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Why did the Meiji government legalize Christianity in 1873?

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The emperor Meiji — Meiji Restoration After the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, the Meiji emperor became the formal head of a new imperial government under whose reign Japan was transformed from an isolated feudal society into a modern, industrialized global power.

The Meiji government legalized Christianity in 1873 primarily due to the intense pressure exerted by Western powers following the forced opening of Japan in the mid-19th century.12

During the preceding Tokugawa period, the policy of sakoku (self-isolation) had strictly banned Christianity, which the shogunate viewed as a threat to political stability. However, after Japan was compelled to open its ports to foreign trade and diplomacy in the 1850s, the new Meiji government faced significant external influence. To align with international expectations and navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of the era, the government lifted the long-standing edict against the religion. This shift was part of a broader effort to modernize the nation and manage relations with Western countries that had gained significant influence within Japan.21