JAPAN.
CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT.
The system of government of the Japanese Empire is 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 13 of Supreme Lord, or Emperor; but the appellation by which he is generally kuFO in foreign countries is the ancient title of Mikado.
Mutsu-hito, the reigning monarch, was born at Kioto, on September 22a1, 1852; succeeded his father, Komei Tenno, 1357; married December 23th, 1883, 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, aul, failing male issue, upon the eldest daughter of the sovereign. This law his often been disregarded in cons quence of the partiality of the monarch or the ambition of powerful ministers, which was one of the principal causes that culminated in the dail 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 femile.
The power of the Mikado is really absolute, but its exercise is controlled to some extent by custom an 1 public opinion. The Emperor himself, in 1875, when the Senate and Supreme Julicial Tribunal were founled, solemnly declared his earnest desire to have a constitutional system of government. Since that time any legislative measure, before becoming law, must go before the Senate for discussion and pass that assembly by a majority of rotes. 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 Ecclesiastical 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 Kuani Sho (Imperial Household), Gai Mu Sho (Foreign Affairs), Nai Mu Sho (Interior), O Kura Sho (Finance), Ko Bu Sho (Public Works). Kai Gan Sho (Navy), Riku Gun Shọ (Army), Shi Ho Sho (Justice), Mom Bu Sho (Elucation) and No Mu Sho (Agricultural and Commercial Department). The Government has been re-organized during the last The Sain, or Left, was abolished in 1875, and the Shoin, or Centre, in 1877. In place of these the Gen Ro In (the Senate), and the Daishin Ia (the Supreme Judicial Tribunal) have been established, and, united with the Dai Jo Kwan (Imperial Council of State), form the Administrative Authority. The Dai Jo Kwan, the centre of the Executive power, consists of the Prime Minister, Vice- The Council is presided over by the Minister, and the Sangi or Councillors. Mikado. The ministers decide ordinary questions, only measures of Imperial importance being submitted for the decision of the Mikado. The Gen Ro In discusse and elaborates or modifies all laws prepared by the Dai Jo Kwan for enactment. The Daishin In has the power of reviewing and annulling the decrees of inferior In September, 1881, in a proclamation the Mikado announced his intention of granting a constitution and representative Government to Japan in the year 1890. The Empire is divided for administrative purposes into three Fu, or cities (Tokio, Kioto, and Osaka), and forty Kea, or districts, including the Loochoo Islands, which have been converted into a ken, and Tesso, which has lately been divided into three ken. There fu and we are governed by prefects. The prefects of the three cities are of higher rank and have more extensive powers than those of
few years.
courts.
1
462
JAPAN.
the kens. The latter are all on an equal footing, are under control of the Nai Mu 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 Tokio, Sendai, Nagasaki, and Osaka, over which the Daishin
In presides at Tokio.
Previous to the last change of Government, which restored the ancient Imperial régime, the administrative authority rested with the Shogun (Military Commander) whom foreigners were at first led to recognise as the temporal sovereign, and with The Shogunate was founded whom they negotiated treaties of peace and commerce.
in 1184 by Yoritomo, a general of great valour and ability, and was continued through several dynasties until 1869, when the Tokugawa family were dispossessed of the usurped authority. Under the Shogun two hundred and fifty Daimios (feudal princes) shared the administrative power, being practically supreme in their respective domains, conditionally upon their loyalty to the Shogun; and the Mikado's power was thus reduerd to a shadow. A list of Daimios, published at Yedo (now Tokio) in 1862, stated their incomes to vary from 10,000 kokú of rice to 1,000,000, while that of the Shogun is said to have amounted to 8,000,000 koku. All these princes, after the overthrow of the Shogunate, surrendered at will their estates and every attribute of authority to the Mikado, and are now ranked as kuazoku (noblemen), quietly living in Tokio.
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
The estimated total revenue of Japan for the year 1883-84 was given in official returns at $75,606,059, and the total expenditure at the same amount, an increase The sources of in round numbers of $9,000,000 on the previous year's estimates, revenue and branches of expenditure were as follow:-
Customs Duties
Land Tax ...
Mining Tax ...
REVENUE.
Tax on Productions of Hokkaido ... Tax on Alcobolic Liquors, &c.
Tax on Tobacco
Stamp Tax on Legal Documents Postage Stamps
Tax on Companies
Various Taxes and License Fees
Profits from Industrial Undertakings
Miscellaneous Receipts
Receipts from the operation of the Sinking Fund Repayment of Debts due to Government
$ 2,600,330 43,029,745 15,878 864,193
16,768,135
974,199
886,336
2,250,000
1,279,544
1,588,360
•
...
1,912,415
1,547.937
...
***
1,391,687
497,300
$75,506,059
Total Estimated Revenue
EXPENDITULE.
Redemption of National Debt
Interest on National Debt
$ 8,792,405 14,599,282
Civil List and Appanages of Imperial Families Pensions
Council of State (Dai Jo Kwan)
Foreign Department (Gai Mu Sho)
Home Department (Nai Mu Sho)
...
Finance Department (0 Kura Sho)
War Department (Riku Gun Sho) Navy Departinent (Kai Gun Sho)... Educational Department (Mom Bu Sho)
-
1,748,785
412,740
•
632,232
195,210
639,225
669,829
10,105,872
*
3,081,692 935,035