Before the modernization of Japan, the samurai were one of the most respected social classes. The various clans of Japan constantly fought for control of the island; therefore, samurai were heavily relied upon for protection and warfare. This period of incessant war did not last forever. Eventually, one clan managed to secure power over Japan and introduce reforms to bring Japan up to par with the Western world. Japan's modernization made the changes necessary to keep the island culture relevant, but because the samurai were unwilling to adapt, they soon became irrelevant in the rapidly changing Japanese culture. Japan's modernization began with the restoration of the emperor as the sole source of power on the island. Previously, the majority of power was held by the ruling Shogun, or warlord. This restoration was called the Meiji Revolution; the new government's main priority was economic development. The first problem the government sought to resolve was the management of the national budget; these included the debts of estates which accepted government rule. The national government also became responsible for stipends paid to samurai as compensation for their previous service to the government. At first, the stipend paid to samurai accounted for a third of governments, this stipend was transformed into fixed interest bonds. Later, with excessive money creation, prices rose and the real value of samurai bonds declined. The samurai class lost its source of income with land reforms and the creation of the commoners' conscription army. (Meiji Restoration/Revolution in Japan) Although the revolution was called a restoration of the emperor,...... middle of paper ......ent to begin printing paper money. The rebellion also marked the end of the samurai class, as the new Imperial Japanese Army, composed of conscripts selected without regard to social class, had proven themselves in combat. Saigō Takamori was called a tragic hero by the people and on February 22, 1889, Emperor Meiji posthumously pardoned Saigō (Sunset of the Samurai). The modernization of Japan effectively ended the samurai social class, but brought about the reforms necessary to bring Japan up to date with the rest of the Western world. Some samurai found it difficult to relinquish the power they previously held in Japanese culture. These selected samurai resisted the new national government. These rebellions were suppressed by the new conscript army, which proved itself in battle against the army of the old school of samurai..