JAPAN.
Constitution and Government.
The system of Government of the Japanese Empire is as yet, but imperfectly known. The nominal head of the State is a Spiritual Emperor called the "Mikado, invisible to the people, and considered of semi-divine origin. At his side stands a Temporal Emperor, the "Ziogun," or, as commonly called, the Tycoon, whose office also is hereditary in his family, and who represents the central executive. But neither the Mikado nor the Tycoon appear to be possessed of general authority, extending over the whole State. The actual Government is vested in a number of feudal Princes, or "Daimios," proprietors in their own right of a more or less extensive territory, over which they exercise absolute sway. The central authority is not only powerless as far as they are concerned, but they claim the right even of removing the Tycoon and his Ministers.
The administration of the Empire is carried on by two Councils of State, the first, called the "Gorogio," composed of five members, and the second, the "Onwakadouchisri,” of seven members. Over the first council, which more immediately represents the executive authority, presides the "Gotario," or prime-minister, who occupies the post of Regent of Japan, in the event of the minority, or during the temporary illness of the Tycoon. The "Gotario," is elected by the two Councils of State and the principal "Daimios" of the Empire, from among the latter class.
The following is a list of the chief feudal Princes of the Empire, with their revenues and territorial possessions, taken from the Japanese "Official Almanack” *
Names and titles of principal Daimios.
Revenues in kokous of rice.
Pounds Lord of the castles Sterling. and cities of
Situated in the Provinces of
Prince of Kanga, Maida Kaga 1,202,700
no Kami
769,728 Kanasawa,
Dais- Kaga and Noto
Prince of Satsouma, Matsdaïra 760,800
Satsouma no Kami Prince of Owari, Tokungawa
Owari dono
dowara'
629,500
odgi, Koumatsou 486,912 Kagosima, † Sa-Satsouma and
Fouigo 402,880 Nogosa, Inu Yama Owari
Matsdaïra Moutsen no Kami,
or Xendaï
Prince of Moutsen or Xendaï, 626,000 400,640 Siraisi, Xendaï,
Prince of Ksiou, Tokungawa 555,000 355,200 Wakayama, Tanabe, Ki, or Ksiou
Kidono, or Ksiou
Singo
Prince of Etzu, Hosokawa Etzu 540,000 345,600 Koumamoto,
no Kami
Moutsen, or
Taïra
Oshiou Xendaï
Jat-Chigo or Figo
sosiro, Oudo
Prince of Mino, Matsdaïra Mino 520,000 332,800 Foukôoka
no Kami
Tzikoudzen
Prince of Aki, Matsdaïra Aki 436,000 279,046 Ghirosina
no Kami
Prince of Daïsen, Matsdaïra 369,000 236,160 Yewakumi,
Daïsen no Taiou
kuváma, Chiofou
Aki
To-Nagato Hagi- Soulio
and
Fizen
Prince of Fizen, Matsdaïra 357,000, 228,400 Saga
Fizen no Kami.
• After Sir Rutherford Alcock's The Capital of the Tycoon, London, 1863. Vol. II., Appendix D.
+ Bombarded by the British fleet under Adml, Kuper, August 14-16, 1863.