Question: who was the japanese emperor that presided over japan's transition towards modernization
Answer: Emperor Meiji ( 明治 天皇 , Meiji - tennō , November 3 , 1852 -- July 30 , 1912 ) , or Meiji the Great ( 明治 大帝 , 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 .