NationMaster - Encyclopedia: House of Peers

The House of Peers (貴族院 Kizokuin) was the upper house of the Imperial Diet under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan (in effect from 11 February 1889 to 3 May 1947). Ito Hirobumi and the other Meiji leaders deliberately modelled the chamber on the British House of Lords, as a counterweight to the popularly elected House of Representatives (Shūgiin). An upper house (Frequently known as a Senate) is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house. ... The National Diet of Japan (å›½ä¼š kokkai) is Japans legislature. ... The Constitution of the Empire of Japan was the constitution of Japan from 1889-1946. ... February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Born in Hagi, Yamaguchi, Prince ItÅ Hirobumi (ä¼Šè—¤ åšæ–‡ ItÅ Hirobumi 16 October 1841â€“26 October 1909, also called Hirofumi/Hakubun and Shunsuke in his youth) was a Japanese politician and the countrys first Prime Minister (and the 5th, 7th and 10th). ... History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Meiji period (Japanese: Meiji Jidai 明治時代 ) (1868–1912... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... The House of Representatives (衆議院; Shugi-in) is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. ...

In 1869, the leaders of new government had the Emperor Meiji issue an imperial ordinance that merged the daimyo and the kuge into a single aristocratic class, the kazoku. A second imperial ordinance in 1884, grouped the kazok into five ranks equivalent to the European prince (or duke), marquis, count, viscount, and baron. Although those grouping idea was taken from European peerage, Japanese title was taken from Chinese in association to the feudal system in the ancient China. 1869 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito) Emperor Meiji (æ˜Žæ²»å¤©çš‡, Meiji TennÅ, literally Emperor of Enlightened Rule) (3 November 1852â€“30 July 1912), also known as Mutsuhito (ç¦ä»), was the 122nd Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Imperial is a term that is used to describe something that relates to an Empire, Emperor, or the concept of Imperialism. ... Ordinance can mean: A law made by a non-sovereign body such as a city council or a colony. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ... The kuge (公家) was a Japanese aristocratic class that dominated the Japanese imperial court in Kyoto until the rise of the Shogunate in the 12th century at which point it was eclipsed by the daimyo. ... Aristocracy is a form of government in which rulership is in the hands of an upper class known as aristocrats. ... Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups in societies or cultures. ... The kazoku (華族, lit. ... 1884 is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar). ... This article is about the continent. ... The term prince (the female form is princess), from the Latin root princeps, when used for a member of the highest aristocracy, has several fundamentally different meanings - one generic, and several types of titles. ... The term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Portugal, Spain and France (in Italy... Marquis has many different meanings: Don Marquis was a writer, poet, and journalist. ... Look up Count in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A count is a nobleman in most European countries, equivalent in rank to a British earl, whose wife is still a countess (for lack of an Anglo-Saxon term). ... A viscount is a member of the European nobility, especially, as in the British peerage, ranking above a baron, below a (British) earl or (his continental equivalent) count. ... Baron is a specific title of nobility or a more generic feudal qualification. ...

The House of Peers originally comprised:

all imperial princes (shinnō) and lesser princes of the imperial blood (ō) over the age of twenty,
all princes and marquis over the age of thirty,
150 elected representatives of the counts, viscounts, and barons,
150 additional members nominated by the Emperor, in consultation with the Privy Council, and
66 elected representatives of the 6,000 highest taxpayers.

During the first session of the Imperial Diet (1889-1890), there were 145 hereditary members and 106 imperial appointees and high taxpayers, for a total of 251 members. With the creation of new peers and the addition of seats for representatives of the Imperial Academy (Gakushuin), the membership grew to 403 by 1925. The House of Peers elected its own president and vice president. Like the House of Representatives, the House of Peers had limited powers. The Constitution of Japan, in effect from 3 May 1947, replaced the unelected House of Peers with an elected House of Councillors. His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan The Emperor of Japan (å¤©çš‡ tennÅ) is a constitutionally-recognized symbol of the Japanese nation and the unity of its people. ... Note: this article name (or a redirect to it) is a homophone with cession. ... 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... For the scientific journal Heredity see Heredity (journal) Heredity (the adjective is hereditary) is the transfer of characters from parent to offspring, either through their genes or through the social institution called inheritance (for example, a title of nobility is passed from individual to individual according to relevant customs and... In the Star Wars universe, the Imperial Academy was a military training program formed by the Galactic Empire for youth from across the galaxy who wanted to join the Imperial Military. ... The Gakushuin University (学習院大学 Gakushūin Daigaku) or formerly Peers School (now incorporated as the Gakushuin School Corporation) is an educational institution in Tokyo established in 1877, during the Meiji era, for the education of the children of the Japanese aristocracy, though it eventually also opened its doors to the offspring... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ... A vice president is an officer in government or business who is next in rank below a president. ... The Constitution of Japan has been the founding legal document of Japan since 1947. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The House of Councillors chamber, in the National Diet Building in Tokyo. ...