First of all, the Meiji Restoration started in 1868 if I recall correctly, in 1766 the Shoguns were still in power.
During the period of the Meiji restoration the Asian market was mostly controlled by (unfair) tradeconventions, and Japan was able to keep theirselves aside Europe and America. The Meiji Restoration managed to get a rapid evolution in Japan; new schoolsystem available for everyone, a constitution but most of all: Japan became a democratic state with equal rights to all inhabitants. In 1871 Japan ended the power of the "daimyo", the feodal landowners, which gave the farmers way more freedom. After that Japan mostly industrialised, so I don't know if there's alot of farmers left by the time of 1900.
Probably not the best answer but I hope it helps you in some way.
Source: Buruma, I. The invention of Japan.
While I cant speak for the period before 1600, after that period I can provide some information. From around 1641 the Dutch East India Trading company had a near perfect monopoly on the trade with Japan. The Japanese had had earlier encounters with European traders, specifically the Portuguese, but due to religious tensions that the Portuguese brought with them, they were eventually kicked out. This Dutch monopoly on trade with Japan through the island of Deshima lasted until 1853 with the arrival of Commodore Perry and the beginning of the end for Japan's shoguns and isolation policy.
This Dutch trade was also Japan's primary source for the scientific discoveries and improvements that the enlightenment had brought to the world. This flow of scientific knowledge was known as Rangaku (Kyūjitai: 蘭學/Shinjitai: 蘭学, literally "Dutch Learning". This was extremely important in bringing improvements in all aspects of life to the isolated island of Japan, especially in the fields of biology and chemistry. While the direct and immediate effect of this scientific knowledge might not have been noticeable by the typical Japanese farmer, it would have slowly spread throughout the island. Especially due to the organization of society during the Shogun era, where each daimyo (Japanese lords) would have to make an annual journey to the capital of Edo.
Sources:
Jonathan Israel: "The Dutch Republic" Tipton: "Modern Japan" Huffman: "Japan in world history"