Japanese Politics:Form of Government

Feudal Japan's Government

Type of government: Monarchy (shifting to Shogunate system)

Closed country system (Sakoku Policy) Imperial Diet (Legislative)

House of Peers Represented by the noble class

(appointed) House of Representatives

elected

Political Hierarchy of Feudal Japan

Emperor “supposed to be head of state”

Shogun military leaders appointed by the

emperor But has greater authority than the

emperor

Daimyo Warlords with grat power in the economy

Samurai Feudal Japan's armed forces Code of honor (Bushido) Highly respected until the fall of the

system

Artisans Farmers, craftsmen and courtesans

Merchants Lowly looked upon by society but are the

most wealthy

Notable Shogunates

Kamakura Ruled by the Minamoto clan

Muromachi Ruled by the Ashikaga clan

Edo Ruled by the Tokugawa clan

Bakumatsu

Transition period of Feudal Japan to the Meiji government

Time when the samurai was stripped from its high position in society – rounin

Replaced by the shinsengumi (police officers armed with swords)

Fun fact: Rurouni Kenshin was set in this period~! :)

Meiji Ishin's Government

1885 – start of the latter half of Meiji period Emperor was regarded as the center of

power and a source of legitimacy Creation of party politics Type of government: Constitutional

monarchy

Post War Japan's Government

Based on the Westminster model Electorate elected parliament Cabinet is selected

Cabinet members headed a government ministry

Head of state is the Prime Minister Those who had a high ranking position

were no longer allowed to be part of the new government

Post War Japan's Government

Emperor Has the right in giving the thumbs up to

the selected PM

National Diet (legislative) House of Representative and House of

Councillors Responsible for electing the PM

Article 9 Demilitarization

The US still controlled the government

Notable Prime Ministers

First prime minister: Hirobumi Ito Current PM: Shinzou Abe (52nd & 63rd PM) Longest stay in power: Shigeru Yoshida

2247 days Shortest stay in power: Tsutomu Hata 63

days

Political parties in Japan

Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Ruling political party Right wing – preserving the status quo

that leaders should have the centralized power

Democratic Party of Japan Left wing – against the status quo and

the society's interest should be considered

Japan Restoriation Party New Komeito