The Imperial government moves to suppress the Satsuma Rebellion- the desperate last stand of the former samurai class against the forces of modernization. With the deaths of the last mastermind of the restoration, a new generation takes charge of events in Japan.

The newly victorious Imperial restoration government continues its work of reforming Japan's culture, society, and politics. As these changes begin to alienate some of the Emperor's former supporters, the specter of rebellion begins to haunt the nation once again.

The civil war between the supporters of the Emperor and the Shogun rages on as both sides seek the support of the western powers. Meanwhile, the young Emperor Meiji takes the first steps towards reforming Japan into a modern, centralized nation-state.

After months of scheming, a faction of imperial loyalists embark on their plan to restore the authority of the Emperor, resulting in the outbreak of armed conflict between the Shogunate and Imperial forces at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi.

The various political factions in Japan struggle to enact the agenda of "enriching the country and strengthening the army." Meanwhile, events push the rival domains of Chōshū and Satsuma closer toward an alliance against the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Tensions between the Shogun, the Emperor, and their respective supporters continue to escalate as these factions debate how best to respond to the threat posed by the Western powers. Meanwhile, a bloody confrontation between a British merchant and a Japanese samurai leads to the brink of full-blown war.

When an American naval squadron arrives in Edo Bay on July 8th, 1853, the Japanese nation is gripped by panic. Having previously been isolated from the rest of the world, the ‘opening’ of Japan was certain to have grave political and social consequences that would be felt for decades to come.