Final answer:
Besides steam locomotives, the first golden age of Japanese rail also focused on modernizing the army and investing heavily in shipbuilding as a part of the Meiji government's industrialization efforts. Developed steamships also played a key role in transforming transportation and supporting economic growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
In addition to steam locomotives, several other innovations and developments were a focus during what is often referred to as the first golden age of Japanese rail. The Meiji government's campaign for industrialization included modernizing the army, which was equipped with modern weapons and trained in Western methods of warfare. Moreover, the government embarked on substantial investments in shipbuilding, alongside its efforts in expanding the railroad network. Japanese ambition to modernize included connecting regions through railroads, fostering industrial growth, and creating self-sufficiency in terms of defense and industry.
Steamships played a significant role in this era as new modes of transport that propelled the transportation revolution forward. Just like the trains, they were powered by steam and were instrumental in delivering raw materials to factories and transporting finished goods to the market. The meshing of these innovations significantly altered perceptions of time, space, distance, and leisure, which is well documented by scholars like John Green. Rail and sea transport became crucial to Japan's accelerated industrial and economic growth during the Meiji period.