Japan Part 18

We must now give an account of the most remarkable event in the modern history of j.a.pan. We refer to the termination of feudalism by the voluntary surrender of their feudal rights on the part of the daimyos.

This action was a logical consequence of the restoration of the executive power into the hands of the emperor. It was felt by the statesmen of this period that in order to secure a government which could grapple successfully with the many questions which would press upon it, there must be a centralization of the powers which were now distributed among the powerful daimyos of the empire. To bring this about by force was impossible. To discover among the princes a willingness to give up their hereditary privileges and come down to the position of a powerless aristocracy was something for which we have hitherto looked in vain.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Mori Arinori.

Doubtless the _faineant_ condition of nearly all the daimyos at this time made the accomplishment of this event more easy. With only a few exceptions, the hereditary princes of the provinces had come to be merely the formal chiefs of their daimiates. The real power was in the hands of the energetic and capable _samurai_, who were employed to manage the affairs. They saw that any scheme for transferring the political authority of the daimyos to the central government would render more important their services. They would become not merely the formal administrative functionaries, but the real officers to whom responsible duties and trusts would be confided. Some of this cla.s.s of subordinates had already in the new imperial government tasted the savoriness of this kind of service, and they were ready to carry out a plan which seemed to have patriotism and practicability in its favor.

The most notable circ.u.mstance in this series of events was the presentation to the emperor of an elaborate memorial signed by the daimyos of Choshu, Satsuma, Tosa, Hizen, Kaga, and others, offering him the lists of their possessions and men. This memorial(329) appeared in the official gazette March 5, 1869. Its preparation is attributed to Kido Takayoshi, and bears supreme evidence to his learning and statesmanship. With lofty eloquence the memorial exclaims: "The place where we live is the emperor's land, and the food which we eat is grown by the emperor's men. How can we make it our own? We now reverently offer up the lists of our possessions and men, with the prayer that the emperor will take good measures for rewarding those to whom reward is due and taking from those to whom punishment is due. Let the imperial orders be issued for altering and remodelling the territories of the various cla.s.ses.... This is now the most urgent duty of the emperor, as it is that of his servants and children."

The example thus set by the most powerful and influential daimyos was followed rapidly by others. Two hundred and forty-one(330) of the daimyos united in asking the emperor to take back their hereditary territories.

And in the end only a small number remained who had not so pet.i.tioned.

Prince Azuki in his memorial says: "1. Let them restore the territories which they have received from the emperor and return to a const.i.tutional and undivided country. 2. Let them abandon their t.i.tles and under the name of _kwazoku_ (persons of honor) receive such properties as may serve for their wants. 3. Let the officers of the clans abandoning that t.i.tle, call themselves officers of the emperor, receiving property equal to that which they have hitherto held."

In response to these memorials a decree(331) was issued by the emperor August 7, 1869, announcing the abolition of the daimiates, and the restoration of their revenues to the imperial treasury. It was also decreed that the ranks of court n.o.bles (_kuges_) and of daimyos be abolished and the single rank of _kwazoku_ be subst.i.tuted.

Thus at one stroke the whole inst.i.tution of feudalism which had flourished from the time of Yoritomo was cut away. The government made provision for the administration by creating prefectures (_ken_) to take the place of daimiates. This was done in 1871. At first the daimyos were appointed governors of the prefectures. But it was soon found that these hereditary princes were as a cla.s.s utterly unfit for the chief executive offices of their old provinces. Hence, one by one other competent persons were appointed to vacancies, until it came to be understood that competence and fitness were to be the requisite qualifications for such appointments.

The financial questions involved in the suppression of the feudal system were serious and difficult. When the daimyos surrendered their fiefs, they did so with the understanding that they themselves should "receive such properties as may serve their wants,"(332) and that the emperor should take "measures for rewarding those to whom reward is due."(333) It was decided that each ex-daimyo, and each of the suzerains that were dependent on him, should receive one tenth of the amount of their income from their fiefs. The ex-daimyos received this amount free of any claims upon them for the support of the non-productive _samurai_, who formed the standing armies of each clan. The central government a.s.sumed all the payments to the _samurai_ for services of whatever kind. This heavy charge of the government was met by borrowing $165,000,000,(334) which was added to the national debt. With this sum they undertook to capitalize the pensions, which was finally accomplished by a compulsory enactment. Each claimant received from the government interest-bearing bonds for the amount of his income reckoned at from five to fourteen years' purchase according to its sum. Thus to the great relief of the country the matter of pensions was disposed of.

To many of the _samurai_ this summary settlement had unfortunate results.

The lump sums which they received were often soon consumed, and they were left penniless and helpless. The traditions under which they had been trained led them to look down upon labor and trade with disdain, and rendered them unfit to enter successfully on the careers of modern life.

In many cases worry and disappointment, and in others poverty and want, have been the sequels which have closely followed the poor and obsolete _samurai._

Several minor but noteworthy steps in reform were taken. The ancient disqualifications of the _eta_ and _heimin_ were removed in 1871, and these pariahs placed on the same legal footing as the rest of the population. The first railway in j.a.pan was opened between Yokohama and Tokyo in 1872. The European calendar, so far as it regarded the beginning of the year and the beginning of the months, was adopted in 1873. The year was still counted from Jimmu Tenno, 1873 of the Christian era corresponding to 2533 of the j.a.panese era, and also by the _Meiji_ year-period, the commencement of which was from 1868.

Several international events deserve notice here. A number of Ryukyu islanders (va.s.sals of j.a.pan) had been shipwrecked on Formosa and some killed by the semi-savage inhabitants. To punish this cruelty, and to insure a more humane treatment in the future, the j.a.panese government sent an expedition under General Saigo Tsugumichi. They made short work of the inhuman tribes and enforced upon them the lesson of civility. China, who claimed a sovereignty over this island, acknowledged the service j.a.pan had rendered, and agreed to pay an indemnity for the expenses of the expedition.

The long-pending dispute between Russia and j.a.pan concerning the boundary in Saghalien was settled in 1875 by a treaty(335) which exchanged the j.a.panese claims in Saghalien for the Kurile islands (Chishima).

An unexpected attack by the Koreans upon a j.a.panese steamer asking coal and provisions awakened an intense excitement in j.a.pan. An expedition after the pattern of Commodore Perry's, under the command of General Kuroda Kiyotaka, was despatched in January, 1876, to come to an understanding with the Koreans. The negotiations were entirely successful, and a treaty(336) of amity and commerce was concluded, and thus another of the secluded kingdoms of the East had been brought into the comity of nations. Then outbreaks of this kind in Saga, in Higo, in Akizuki, and in Choshu occurred, but they were all put down without difficulty or delay.

The promptness with which the government dealt with these factions boded no good to the reactionary movements that were ready to break out in other places.

Although the Satsuma clan had taken the most prominent part in the destruction of the shogunate and in the restoration of an imperial government, there was in it a greater amount of conservatism and opposition to modern innovations than was to be found elsewhere. Indeed, the clan had split into two distinct parties, the one aiding in all the reforms and changes which the government was attempting to carry out, the other holding resolutely to the old feudal traditions which they saw endangered by the present att.i.tude of the emperor's counsellors. The latter party had for its leaders Shimazu Saburo and Saigo Takamori, both of whom had played conspicuous parts in the recent history of their country. The government had tried to conciliate these two influential men and to secure their co-operation in the administration. But both had retired from Tokyo, and declined longer to share the responsibility of a course which they could not approve.

Saigo, who was the idol of the _samurai_, after his retirement established near Kagoshima a military school, where the young men of that cla.s.s were drilled in the duties of the army. Branch schools on the same model were also carried on in several other places in the province. In all it was said that not less than 20,000 young _samurai_ were receiving a training in these dangerous schools. They were filled with the most violent antipathy to the government and were with difficulty restrained, even by their leaders, from outbreaks in sympathy with the uprisings which elsewhere were taking place.

The government was naturally solicitous concerning these collections of inflammable material. A collision with the students over the removal of some stores of arms and ammunition, revealed their readiness to break into rebellion. It is not improbable that designing conspirators took advantage of the open and chivalric character of Saigo to push him into the initiation of hostilities. Admiral Kawamura, himself a Satsuma man and a connection of Saigo, was sent down to hold an interview with him and if possible to make a peaceful settlement. But the interview was declined.

The rebellious elements were at once gathered together, and Saigo, at the head of a force of 14,000 men, started about the middle of February, 1877, on his march up the west coast of Kyushu, on his way to Tokyo. The conspirators estimated that a force of 30,000 troops could be counted on to take part in the expedition.

The first impediment in their march was the castle of k.u.mamoto,(337) where the government had a garrison of 2,000 to 3,000 men under General Tani.

Saigo determined to reduce it before making further progress. He spent several weeks in this vain attempt. This was a precious delay for the government, which it spent in organizing and sending forward troops for opposing the advance of the rebels. All available forces were collected and put in motion to the seat of war. Prince Arisugawa-no-miya was appointed commander-in-chief and established his headquarters at f.u.kuoka.

The equipment of troops at the seat of government was under the supervision of General Saigo Tsugumichi, a younger brother of the rebel leader. Loyal as he was to his emperor, it was a painful task for him to organize war against his brother. With native delicacy he left to others the duty of fighting on the field, and confined himself to the less conspicuous part of gathering and sending troops as they were needed.

The rebels had besieged k.u.mamoto and had already reduced it to great straits. But the imperial forces came in time to its relief. There was desperate fighting, but at last the besiegers were compelled to withdraw.

They retreated toward the east coast with the apparent purpose of seeking a way to the north by Hyuga and Bungo. Promptly they were followed and confined to a defensive att.i.tude. The most desperate battles were fought in this part of the campaign. Though disappointed and outnumbered, the rebels fought with consummate bravery. They were almost in the shadow of the mountains where their celestial ancestor was fabled to have descended upon the j.a.panese islands.(338) Their last stand was at n.o.beoka in the northeast corner of Hyuga. Their leaders realized that to continue the contest would only cause unnecessary and hopeless slaughter.

Under these circ.u.mstances Saigo saw that to end the fighting and save his followers he must leave them. Accordingly with about two hundred of those who were personally devoted to him, he broke through the imperial line and escaped to Kagoshima. The army, finding they were forsaken, surrendered, August 19, 1877. Saigo, with his little band, entrenched himself on the summit of the hill Shiroyama overlooking Kagoshima. Here he was surrounded by the imperial forces and bombarded night and day. The veteran leader was at last wounded in the thigh, and seeing that all hope of escape was gone, he requested one of his lieutenants to perform for him the friendly office of severing his head from his body. After the capture of the stronghold, the bodies of Saigo and his comrades were discovered. Admiral Kawamura himself with tender hands washed the b.l.o.o.d.y head of his dead friend, and saw that the bodies of all were decently buried. Thus, on September 24, 1877, the last and most serious of the attempts which have been made to disturb the empire in its new career came to an end.

There was, however, one mournful sequel to this rebellion. Okubo Toshimichi, a statesman and patriot of the purest type, had from the beginning resisted the reactionary movements of his clan. At the time of the rebellion he was minister of Home Affairs and put forth all his exertions to suppress it. A baseless slander that he had sent to Satsuma hired a.s.sa.s.sins to take Saigo's life, had been used by the reckless conspirators to force the rebel leader to an outbreak. This was believed by many of the _samurai_, not only in Satsuma but in other provinces. On May 14, 1878, Tokyo was startled by the news that Okubo, while driving through a secluded spot in the old castle grounds, on his way to the emperor's palace, had been murdered. The a.s.sa.s.sins were from the province of Kaga, and gave as the reason for their crime their desire to avenge the death of Saigo. j.a.pan could ill afford to spare at this time her most clear-headed statesman and her n.o.blest and most unflinching patriot.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Okubo Toshimichi.

What followed these important events must be told in a summary manner.

There was a powerful and growing party in the empire, who looked forward to a modification of the absolute form of government to which they had returned in 1868. This party was particularly aggressive in the province of Tosa. They recalled to themselves and others the solemn pledge which the emperor had given to his people in his charter oath,(339) when he announced that "a deliberative a.s.sembly shall be formed, and all measures decided by public opinion."

The ruling minds in the government feared that the people were too inexperienced and too unaccustomed to deciding and acting for themselves to be entrusted with the grave duty of const.i.tutional government. As a preparation for so important a step local a.s.semblies were authorized and established in 1878. Matters referring to the government of each _fu_ and _ken_ were to be discussed, and to a certain extent decided in these a.s.semblies. It was believed that the experience gained in such bodies would go far towards preparing men for service in an imperial legislative body. The expectations founded on these local a.s.semblies were realized and in a fair degree they continued to fulfil their purpose.

In further pursuance of the plan of const.i.tutional government, the emperor, on February 11, 1889, at his palace, promulgated a const.i.tution(340) for his people. In the presence of his cabinet and court he took a solemn oath to govern under its limitations and powers. This const.i.tution contains seven chapters consisting of one hundred and eleven articles: Chapter I. The Emperor; II. Rights and Duties of Subjects; III.

The Imperial Diet; IV. The Ministers of State and Privy Council; V. The Judicature; VI. Finance; VII. Supplementary Rules. The emperor also announced that the imperial diet would be convoked in the twenty-third year of _Meiji_ (1890), and that the const.i.tution would go into effect at the date of its a.s.sembling.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Ito Hirob.u.mi.

It would seem that no great advance can be secured in j.a.pan without the sacrifice of a valuable life. As Ii Kamon-no-kami was murdered in 1860, and as Okubo fell by the a.s.sa.s.sin's hand at the close of the Satsuma rebellion, so now on the very day when the emperor was to promulgate this liberal const.i.tution, Viscount Mori Arinori fell a victim to the fanatical hatred of one who looked with distrust upon the progress which his country was making. No one could look, or did look, on this progress with more interest than Mori. He had so long and so earnestly advocated a liberal and tolerant policy in the councils of his country, and had been a leader in all that was high and n.o.ble, that we cannot regard, except with profound regret, his untimely death.

APPENDIX I. LIST OF EMPERORS.

(The list here printed is the official list issued by the government, and has been revised by Mr. Tateno, the j.a.panese Minister at Washington.)

Name. Date of Date of Age at Access. Death. Death.

1. Jimmu 660 B.C. 585 B.C. 127 2. Suizei 581 549 84 3. Annei 548 511 57 4. Itoku 510 477 77 5. Kosho 475 393 114 6. Koan 392 291 137 7. Korei 290 215 128 8. Kogen 214 158 116 9. Kaikwa 157 98 111 10. Sujin 97 30 A.D. 119 11. Suinin 29 A.D. 70 141 12. Keiko 71 130 143 13. Seimu 131 190 108 14. Chuai 192 200 52 Jingo (Empress Regent)(341) 201 269 100 15. Ojin 270 310 110 16. Nintoku 313 399 110 17. Richu 400 405 67 18. Hanzei 406 411 60 19. Inkyo 412 453 80 20. Anko 454 456 56 21. Yuriyaku 457 479 -- 22. Seinei 480 484 41 23. Kenzo 485 487 -- 24. Ninken 488 498 50 25. Muretsu 499 506 18 26. Keitai 507 531 82 27. Ankan 534 535 70 28. Senkwa 536 539 73 29. Kimmei 540 571 63 30. Bidatsu 572 585 48 31. Yomei 586 587 69 32. Sujun 588 592 73 33. Suiko (Empress) 593 628 75 34. Jomei 629 641 49 35. Kokyoku (Empress) 642 -- -- 36. Kotoku 645 654 59 37. Saimei (re-accession of 655 661 68 Kokyoku 38. Tenji 668 671 58 39. Kobun 672 672 25 40. Temmu 673 686 65 41. Jito (Empress) 690 702 58 42. Mommu 697 707 25 43. Gemmyo (Empress) 708 721 61 44. Gensho (Empress) 715 748 69 45. Shomu 724 756 56 46. Koken (Empress) 749 -- -- 47. Junnin 759 765 33 48. Koken (re-enthroned) 765 770 53 49. Konin 770 781 73 50. Kwammu 782 806 70 51. Heijo 806 824 51 52. Saga 810 842 57 53. Ninna 824 840 55 54. Nimmyo 834 850 41 55. Montoku 851 858 32 56. Seiwa 859 880 31 57. Yozei 877 949 82 58. Koko 885 887 58 59. Uda 888 931 65 60. Daigo 898 930 46 61. Shujaku 931 952 30 62. Muragami 947 967 42 63. Reizei 968 1011 62 64. Enyu 970 991 33 65. Kwazan 985 1008 41 66. Ichiyo 987 1011 32 67. Sanjo 1012 1017 42 68. Go-Ichijo 1017 1028 29 69. Go-Shujaku 1037 1045 37 70. Go-Reizei 1047 1068 44 71. Go-Sanjo 1069 1073 40 72. Shirakawa 1073 1129 77 73. Horikawa 1087 1107 29 74. Toba 1108 1156 54 75. Shutoku 1124 1164 46 76. Konoye 1142 1155 17 77. Go-Shirakawa 1156 1192 66 78. Nijo 1159 1165 23 79. Rokujo 1166 1176 13 80. Takakura 1169 1181 21 81. Antoku 1181 1185 15 82. Go-Toba 1186 1239 60 83. Tsuchi-mikado 1199 1231 37 84. Juntoku 1211 1242 46 85. Chukyo 1222 1234 17 86. Go-Horikawa 1221 1234 23 87. Yojo 1232 1242 12 88. Go-Saga 1242 1272 53 89. Go f.u.kakusa 1246 1304 62 90. Kameyama 1259 1305 57 91. Go-Uda 1274 1324 58 92. Fushimi 1288 1317 53 93. Go-Fushimi 1298 1336 49 94. Go-Nijyo 1301 1308 24 95. Hanazono 1308 1348 52 96. Go-Daigo 1318 1339 52 97. Go-Murakami 1339 1368 41 98. Go-Kameyama 1373 1424 78 99. Go-Komatsu 1382 1433 57 100. Shoko 1414 1428 28 101. Go-Hanazono 1429 1470 52 102. Go-Tsuchi-mikado 1465 1500 59 103. Go-Kashiwabara 1521 1526 63 104. Go-Nara 1536 1557 62 105. Ogimachi 1560 1593 77 106. Go-Yojo 1586 1617 47 107. Go-Mizuo 1611 1680 85 108. Myosho (Empress) 1630 1696 74 109. Go-Komyo 1643 1654 22 110. Go-Nishio 1656 1685 49 111. Reigen 1663 1732 79 112. Higashiyama 1687 1709 35 113. Naka-mikado 1710 1737 37 114. Sakuramachi 1720 1750 31 115. Momozono 1747 1762 22 116. Go-Sakuramachi (Empress) 1763 1813 74 117. Go-Momozono 1771 1779 22 118. Kokaku 1780 1840 70 119. Jinko 1817 1846 47 120. Komei 1847 1867 37 121. Mutsuhito (reigning 1868 emperor)

APPENDIX II. LIST OF YEAR PERIODS.(342)

Name. j.a.panese Era. Christian Era.

Taikwa 1305 645 Hakuchi 1310 650 Saimei 1315 655 Tenji 1322 662 Sujaku 1332 672 Hakuho 1333 673 Sucho 1346 686 Jito 1347 687 Momm 1357 697 Daiho 1361 701 Keiun 1364 704 Wado 1368 708 Reiki 1375 715 Yoro 1377 717 Jinki 1384 724 Tembio 1389 729 Tembio shoho 1409 749 Tembio hoji 1417 757 Tembio jingo 1425 765 Jingo keiun 1427 767 Hoki 1430 770 Teno 1441 781 Enriaku 1442 782 Daido 1466 806 Konin 1470 810 Tencho 1484 824 Jowa 1494 834 Kajo 1508 848 Ninju 1511 851 Saiko 1514 854 Tenan 1517 857 Jogwan 1519 859 Gw.a.n.gio 1537 877 Ninna 1545 885 Kwampei 1549 889 Shotai 1558 898 Engi 1561 901 Encho 1583 923 Johei 1591 931 Tengio 1598 938 Tenriaku 1607 947 Tentoku 1617 957 Owa 1621 961 Koho 1624 964 Anna 1628 968 Tenroku 1630 970 Ten-en 1633 973 Jogen 1636 976 Tengen 1638 978 Eikwan 1643 983 Kwanna 1645 985 Ei-en 1647 987 Eiso 1649 989 Shoriaku 1650 990 Chotoku 1655 995 Choho 1659 999 Kw.a.n.ko 1664 1004 Chowa 1672 1012 Kwannin 1677 1017 Ji-an 1681 1021 Manju 1684 1024 Chogen 1688 1028 Choriaku 1697 1037 Chokiu 1700 1040 Kwantoku 1704 1044 Eijo 1706 1046 Tengi 1713 1053 Kohei 1718 1058 Jiriaku 1725 1065 Enkiu 1729 1069 Joho 1734 1074 Joriaku 1737 1077 Eiho 1741 1081 Otoku 1744 1084 Kwanji 1747 1087 Kaho 1754 1094 Eicho 1756 1096 Jotoku 1757 1097 Kowa 1759 1099 Choji 1764 1104 Kajo 1766 1106 Tennin 1768 1108 Tenei 1770 1110 Eikiu 1773 1113 Genei 1778 1118 Ho-an 1780 1120 Tenji 1784 1124 Daiji 1786 1126 Tenjo 1791 1131 Chojo 1792 1132 Ho-en 1795 1135 Eiji 1801 1141 Koji 1802 1142 Tenyo 1804 1144 Kiu-an 1805 1145 Nimbio 1811 1151 Kiuju 1814 1154 Hogen 1816 1156 Heiji 1819 1159 Eiriaku 1820 1160 Oho 1821 1161 Chokwan 1823 1163 Eiman 1825 1165 Ninan 1826 1166 Ka-o 1829 1169 Jo-an 1831 1171 Angen 1835 1175 Jisho 1837 1177 Yowa 1841 1181 Ju-ei 1842 1182 Genriaku 1844 1184 Bunji 1845 1185 Kenkiu 1850 1190 Shoji 1859 1199 Kennin 1861 1201 Genkiu 1864 1204 Kenei 1866 1206 Jogen 1867 1207 Kenriaku 1871 1211 Kempo 1873 1213 Jokiu 1879 1219 Jo-o 1882 1222 Gennin 1884 1224 Karoku 1885 1225 Antei 1887 1227 Kw.a.n.gi 1889 1229 Jo-ei 1892 1232 Tempuku 1893 1233 Bunriaku 1894 1234 Katei 1895 1235 Riakunin 1898 1238 En-o 1899 1239 Ninji 1900 1240 Kw.a.n.gen 1903 1243 Hoji 1907 1247 Kencho 1909 1249 Kogen 1916 1256 Shoka 1917 1257 Shogen 1919 1259 Buno 1920 1260 Kocho 1921 1261 Bunei 1924 1264 Kenji 1935 1275 Koan 1938 1278 Sho-o 1948 1288 Einin 1953 1293 Shoan 1959 1299 Kengen 1962 1302 Kagen 1963 1303 Tokuji 1966 1306 Enkio 1968 1308 Ocho 1971 1311 Showa 1972 1312 b.u.mpo 1977 1317 Gen-o 1979 1319 Genko 1981 1321 Shochu 1984 1324 Kariaku 1986 1326 Gentoku 1989 1329 Shokio 1992 1331 Kemmu 1994 1334 Engen 1996 1336 Kokoku 1999 1339 Shohei 2006 1346 Kentoku 2030 1370 Bunchu 2032 1372 Tenju 2035 1375 Kowa 2041 1381 Genchu 2044 1384 Meitoku 2050 1390 O-ei 2054 1394 Shocho 2088 1428 Eikio 2089 1429 Kakitsu 2101 1441 Bunan 2104 1444 Hotoku 2109 1449 Kotoku 2112 1452 Kosho 2115 1455 Choroku 2117 1457 Kwansho 2120 1460 Bunsho 2126 1466 Onin 2127 1467 b.u.mmei 2129 1469 Choko 2147 1487 Entoku 2149 1489 Mei-o 2152 1492 Bunki 2161 1501 Eisho 2164 1504 Dai-ei 2181 1521 Koroku 2188 1528 Tembun 2192 1532 Koji 2215 1555 Eiroku 2218 1558 Genki 2230 1570 Tensho 2233 1573 Bunroku 2252 1592 Keicho 2256 1596 Genna 2275 1615 Kwanei 2284 1624 Shoho 2304 1644 Kei-an 2308 1648 Jo-o 2312 1652 Meireki 2315 1655 Manji 2318 1658 Kwambun 2321 1661 Empo 2333 1673 Tenna 2341 1681 Jokio 2344 1684 Genroku 2348 1688 Ho-ei 2364 1704 Shotoku 2371 1711 Kioho 2376 1716 Gembun 2396 1736 Kwampo 2401 1741 Enkio 2404 1744 Kwanen 2408 1748 h.o.r.eki 2411 1751 Meiwa 2424 1764 Anei 2432 1772 Temmei 2441 1781 Kwansei 2449 1789 Kiowa 2461 1801 Bunkwa 2464 1804 Bunsei 2478 1818 Tempo 2490 1830 Kokwa 2504 1844 Ka-ei 2508 1848 Ansei 2514 1854 Manen 2520 1860 Bunkiu 2521 1861 Genji 2524 1864 Kei-o 2525 1865 Meiji 2528 1868