JAPAN.
CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT.
The system of government of the Japanese Empire is at present that of an absolute monarchy. It was adopted in the year 1868, when the now ruling sovereign overthrew, after a short war, the power of the Shogun, together with that of the Daimios, or feudal nobles, who on the 25th June, 1869, resigned their lands, revenues, and retainers, to the Mikado, by whom they were permitted to retain one-tenth of their original incomes, but ordered to reside in the capital in future. The sovereign bears the name of Supreme Lord, or Emperor; but the appellation by which he is generally known in foreign countries is the ancient title of Mikado.
Mut-su-hito, the reigning monarch, was born at Kyoto, on September, 22nd, 1852; succeeded his father, Komei Tenno, 1867; married December 28th, 1868, to Princess Haro-ko, born April 17th, 1850, daughter of Prince Itchijo. The reigning Emperor is the 123rd of an unbroken dynasty, which was founded 666 B.C. By the ancient and regular law of succession the crown devolves upon the eldest son, and, failing male issue, upon the eldest daughter of the sovereign. This law bas often been disregarded in consequence of the partiality of the monarch or the ambition of power- ful ministers, which was one of the principal causes that culminated in the dual system of Government in Japan. The old law of succession has, however, been restored during the present reign. The Throne has frequently been occupied by a female.
The power of the Mikado was formerly absolute, but its exercise was controlled to some extent by custom and public opinion. His Majesty, in 1875, when the Senate and Supreme Judicial Tribunal were founded, solemnly declared his earnest desire to have a constitutional system of government. The Mikado has long been regarded as the spiritual as well as the temporal head of the Empire, but although the present sovereign is favourable to the Shinto faith, he does not actively interfere in religious matters, and all religions are tolerated in Japan. The Eeclesiastical Department was in 1877 reduced to a simple bureau under the control of the Minister of the Interior. The Mikado acts through an Executive Ministry divided into ten departments, namely:-The Kunai Sho (Imperial Household), Gaimu Sho (Foreign Affairs), Naimu Sho (Interior), Okura Sho (Finance). Kobu Sho (Public Works), Kaigun Sho (Navy), Rikugun Sho (Army), Shiho Sho (Justice), Mombu Sho (Education), and Nomu Sho (Agriculture and Commerce). In 1888 a Privy Council, modelled on that of Great Britain, was constituted. The new Constitution, promised by the Mikado in 1881, was proclaimed on the 11th February, 1889. The Parliamentary system is to be bicameral, the House of Peers and the House of Representatives constituting the Imperial Diet. The Upper House is partly elective, partly hereditary, and partly nominated. The Lower House consists of 300 members, to be elected by ballot, and its duration is fixed at four years, but in case of necessity the term may be prolonged. The Emperor nominates the Ministers forming the Cabinet and there is no recogni- tion of the responsibility of the Cabinet to the Diet.
The Empire is divided for administrative purposes into three Fu, or cities (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka), and forty Ken, or districts, including the Loochoo Islands, which have been converted into a ken and named Okinawa, and Yesso, which has lately been divided into three ken. These fu and ken are governed by prefects. The prefects. of the three cities are of higher rank and have more extensive powers than those of the ken. The latter are all on an equal footing, are under control of the Nainu Sho, and have limited powers, being required to submit every matter, unless there is a precedent for it, to the Minister of the Interior. Nor have they any concern in judicial proceedings since the establishment of the twenty-three local Courts and the four Supreme Courts at Tokyo, Sendai, Nagasaki, and Osaka, over which the Daishin In presides at Tokyo.