The purpose of this article is to analyze the history of the formation of the training and educational system of the Japanese Imperial Army personnel in the Meiji period. In the structure of the new state, the armed forces were given a key role. They were supposed to ensure the security of the new government, contribute to the abolition of unequal treaties, and become an instrument for creating a rich country. On this basis, throughout the Meiji period, the main attention of the Japanese leadership was directly or indirectly paid to the armed forces, as evidenced by the slogan “fukoku kyo:hei” - “a rich country - a strong army”, chosen as the basis of Japanese state policy. The foundations for training army personnel laid down by the bakufu were successfully used and improved by the Meiji government. The former opposition, which came to power as a result of the revolution and took all the key posts in the new state apparatus, saw as its first priority the strengthening of its own power, the danger to which wa