CHAPTER VI.

THE NEW EMPIRE IN THE WEST.

DURING my stay in Japan, I had the advantage of many interesting conversations, both with Mr. Inouyé and Mr. Ito, on the condition and prospects of this interesting country. In order to enable me to acquire full and accurate knowledge on the subject, the Foreign Minister laid all the departments of the State under contribution, and I received from each statements which contain the latest and most accurate statistics of the trade, commerce, and general condition of the empire. I have thrown them together in the present chapter.

Imperial Family and Government.-The dynasty of the empire of Japan was established by the Emperor Jimmu, in 660 B.C., and to the throne have succeeded, from generation to generation, the same dynasty without interruption up to the present time.

In the twelfth century the imperial power

once declined, and the political power of the empire fell to the hands of the successive military chieftains (shoguns), namely, Gengi, Hojio, Ashikaga, Oda, Toyotomi, and Tokugawa, for the period of about seven hundred years. In 1868 the present Government stripped the Bakufu Government of its political power, and thus achieved the restoration of the imperial power. In 1871 all the daimios returned their territories to the emperor, and thus the political administration has become uniform.

The present emperor was born at Kioto on November 3, 1852, and succeeded to the throne of his father, Komei Tenno, on January 9, 1868. On the 28th of December of the same year, the daughter of Ichijio Fuziwara Tadaka daizin was made the empress. She was born at Kioto on the 28th of May, 1850.

In regard to the imperial succession established according to the usages of ancient times, the rule of primogeniture is observed whenever the reigning emperor dies. Females may also succeed to the throne, and there are many examples where they have done so. If the throne becomes vacant by reason of the death of the reigning emperor, leaving no issue, one of the members of the four imperial branch families may be chosen as

the imperial successor. These four branch families have not only the same origin or common ancestor, but also have been closely connected with each other by marriage. The imperial expenses are fixed at the amount of 1,748,785 yen for the year 1884.

The empire of Japan is an absolute monarchy. The legislative, executive, and judicial powers all belong to the emperor, and the Daijio-Kuwan, where the emperor presides and decides upon all the Government affairs, is the office of the executive and legislative powers where all the important affairs of the empire are supervised. In this office there are one Dajio-daijin or prime minister, one Gadaijin, one Udaijin, and several Cabinet Sangis. It is usual that these Cabinet Sangis act respectively as the heads of the various executive departments.

But

In the present time there exists no fixed demarcation between the legislative and executive branches of the Government. the Genroin or Senate, established in 1875, discuss the legislative affairs, and the result of their discussion becomes law by the sanction of the emperor, after it has passed the Cabinet. In June, 1883, the number of senators was thirty-seven, but there is no limitation in their

number, as the usage is that they are chosen from among those who have rendered remarkable services to the State.

The Sanzi-in, or conseil d'état, established in 1881 as a part of the Daijio-Kuwan, has both the legislative and executive branches, makes drafts of the executive affairs and of rules and regulations, and discusses all drafts submitted by the heads of the respective departments, and the result of their discussion is submitted to the Senate. It also judges all the administrative controversies. In June, 1883, the number of the members and assistant members was twelve and twenty-nine respectively.

The executive branch of the Government is divided into ten departments, namely, foreign, interior, financial, army, navy, educational, agriculture and commerce, public works, judicial, and imperial household departments. The local government affairs are vested solely in the hands of the chiji of fu and rei, or prefect of ken, the whole empire being divided into 3 fu and 44 ken. In each fu and ken there is one chiji or one rei. Also fu and ken are divided into a number of ku, or districts, and gun, or counties, respectively, in each of which ku or gun there is its chief transacting the local affairs.

In 1872 all the chijis and reis were called to hold meeting at Tokio, the meeting being called "Chihokuwan Kaigi," or the meeting of the local governors, the chief subject of their discussion being the taxes.

By the imperial decree promulgated in 1873 was revised the old system of taxation of the whole empire, the revision having consumed the period of seven years. In each of the years of 1875, 1878, 1879, 1881, chiji and rei were called to hold meetings to discuss the local executive affairs.

In 1879 fu and ken assemblies were opened, the members being elected by votes and vested with the power of discussing the sole affair of the adjustment of the local taxes. But the approval of chiji or rei must be obtained to execute the result of their discussion. When chiji or rei thinks that his approval could not be given to it, he submits his reasons for it to the Minister of the Interior for his direction.

Those who are qualified to be elected members of each fu or ken assembly must be men of over twenty-five years of age, living in each fu or ken over three years, and paying land taxes upwards of ten yen. Those who are qualified to elect such members must be men of over twenty years of age, living