Directory_and_Chronicle_1891 — Page 397

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JAPAN.

CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT.

The government of the Japanese Empire was until lately that of an absolute monarchy. In the year 1868, 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.

Mutsu-hito, the reigning monarch, was born at Kyoto, on November 3rd, 1852; succeeded his father, Komei Tenno, 1867; married December 28th, 1868, to Princess Haru-ko, born April 17th, 1850, daughter of Prince Itchijo. The reigning Emperor is the 121st 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 has often been disregarded in consequence of the partiality of the monarch or the ambition of powerful ministers, which was one of the principal causes that culminated in the dual system of Government in Japan. The Throne has frequently been occupied by a female. A new law of succes- sion was promulgated in February, 1889, which excludes females from the Imperial Throne.

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 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 nine departments, namely:-Gwaimu Sho (Foreign Affairs), Naimu Sho (Interior), Okura Sho (Finance), Kaigun Sho (Navy), Rikugun Sho (Army), Shiho Sho (Justice), Mombu Sho (Education), Noshomu Sho (Agriculture and Commerce), and Teishin Sho (Communications). 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, and in July, 1890, the first Parliament was elected and met on the 29th November. The Parliamentary system is 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 recognition 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-three Ken, or prefectures, including the Loochoo Islands, which have been converted into a ken and named Okinawa. The island of Yezo is under a separate administration called Hokkaido-cho. These fa and ken are governed by prefects. The prefects of the three cities are of higher rank, but as regards their executive power nearly equal to those of the ken. The latter are all on an equal footing, are under control of the Naimu 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 forty-eight local Courts and the seven Supreme Courts at Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Nagasaki Miyagi, and Hakodate, over which the Daishin In presides at Tokyo.