The change of government from the Tokugawa Shogunate to the Emperor Meiji

Meiji Isshin - The change of government from the Tokugawa Shogunate to, in theory, putting the Emperor Meiji in charge of the government is refered to as the "Meiji Isshin (??), which is usually translated in English as the "Meiji Restoration", a change by restoring an old system. However, many historians see this change as forward looking, a "modernization" of Japan and an embracing of Western ideas of government, education, the military, technology, etc. Having read Chapter Eight, the primary documents, looked at the PowerPoints and watched the videos, in your view is it more accurate to see the Meiji Isshin (??) as a “forward looking revolution” or as a “conservative reaction or restoration of the past”? Use evidence from the primary and secondary sources to back up your argument.