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Why did the Meiji government make universal education a priority?

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Map showing the territorial expansion of the Japanese Empire from 1870 to 1942 across East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The map uses color codes to indicate the original Japanese territory in 1870, subsequent acquisitions, and the farthest extent of Japanese occupation and conquest by 1942, including parts of China, Korea, Manchuria, Southeast Asia, and numerous Pacific islands. An inset map displays the broader reach of Japanese control at its peak. — Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan, 1870–1942.

The Meiji government prioritized universal education as a cornerstone of its strategy to modernize Japan, transform the nation into an industrialized power, and preserve its independence against Western encroachment. By adopting the slogan fukoku kyōhei ("Enrich the country, strengthen the army"), leaders sought to build a centralized state capable of standing on equal footing with global powers.12

Universal education served several critical functions:

National Identity and Unity: The government used the school system to replace feudal loyalties with a unified national identity. By the 1880s, education became a vehicle to inculcate Confucian and Shintō values, centering on loyalty to the emperor.34
Ideological Orientation: Through the Imperial Rescript on Education (1890), the state established a moral foundation that promoted "a good and obedient, faithful, and respectful character," effectively using schools to foster patriotism and social harmony.534
Economic and Military Strength: Education was essential for training the human resources needed for industrialization and modern governance. Furthermore, it helped transition the populace from "powerless" peasants into citizens of a centralized state, supporting the government's broader administrative and military reforms.5234