Directory_and_Chronicle_1868 — Page 619

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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.

C

The following is a list of the chief feudal princess of the empire, with their revenues and territorial possessions, taken from the Japanese 'Official Almanack : ' *—

Names and titles of principal in kokous

Daimios.

Prince of Kanga, Maida Kaga 1,202,700

no Kami

Revenues

of rice.

Pounds Lord of the castles sterling. and cities of

Situated in the Provinces

of

Prince of Satsouma, Matsdaïra 760,800

Satsouma no Kami Prince of Owari, Tokungawa

Owari dono

629,500

Prince of Moutsen or Xendaï, Matsdaïra Moutsen no Kami,

626,000

769,728 Kanasawa, Dais- Kaga and Noto

odgi, Koumatsou 486,912 Kagosima, † Sa-

dowara 402,880 Nagosa, Inu Yama

400,640 Siraisi, Xendaï,

Taïra

Satsoums and

Fouigo

Owari

Moutsen, or Oshiou Xendaï

or Xendai

Prince of Ksiou, Tokungawa

Kidono, or Ksiou

555,000

355,200 Wakayama, Tanabe, Ki, or Ksiou

Singo

no Kami

Prince of Etzu, Hosokawa Etzu

no Kami Prince of Mino, Matsdaira Mino 520,000 332,800 Foukooka

Prince of Aki, Matsdaïra Aki 436,000 279,040 Ghirosima

no Kami

Prince of Daisen, Matsdaira 369,000 236,160 Yewakuni, To-

Daisen no Taiou

540,000

345,600 Koumamoto, Jat-Chigo or Figo

sosiro, Oudo

Tzikoudzen

Aki

kuyama, Hagi- Chiofou

Nagato and

Soulio

Prince of Fizen, Matsdaïra 357,000 228,400 Saga

Fizen

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.

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