JAPAN. 



391 



An imperial edict of December 28, 1872, 

 establishes general liability to military service. 

 The time of service is three years. The stand- 

 ing army in time of peace is 35,564 men. The 

 execution of the edict has already begun, but 

 has met in several districts with considerable 

 opposition. The navy was composed of nine- 

 teen vessels (two iron-clads), of an aggregate 

 of seventy guns, and 2,300 horse-power; it 

 was manned by 1,200 men. 



Tiie first railroad of Japan, from Yeddo to 

 Yokohama, was opened in November, 1872 ; 

 it has a length of eighteen miles. It was 

 at onco used so much that early in 1873 a 

 double track had to be laid. A second rail- 

 road, from Iliogo to Osaka, of about equal 

 length, was to be opened in the course of the 

 year 1874. 



The electric telegraph connects (since the be- 

 ginning of 1873) the towns of Nagasaki, Osaka, 

 Hiogo, Kioto, Yokohama, and Yeddo, with each 

 other, ami with the continents of Asia and Eu- 

 rope. The natives have, however, as yet not 

 sufficient skill in telegraphing, and European 

 and American merchants prefer to send their 

 dispatches by vessel to Nagasaki, whence they 

 are forwarded by the Danish Company (Great 

 Northern Telegraph). 



A general post-office was established in 

 'February, 1873. 



The division of the year into fifty-two weeks 

 has also been adopted ; the days are named 

 days of light, moon, fire, water, wood, metal, 

 and earth. 



The Japanese Government has continued 

 throughout the year to introduce reformatory 

 measures in all the department of public 

 administration. The numerous mountebanks 

 of the country were notified in December, 

 1872, that they would be allowed only during 

 three years more to exercise their trade ; after 

 that year they must engage in some useful oc- 

 cupation. Native merchants were authorized 

 to construct several new railroads and tele- 

 graphs. On January 1, 1873, the New Year 

 was for the first time begun on the same day 

 as in the Christian era, with the only differ- 

 ence that the Japanese count their years from 

 the accession to the throne of the first Mikado, 

 the year 1373 being in the Japanese era 2523. 

 Other reforms beginning in January, 1873, 

 were the establishment of an official Govern- 

 ment gazette, which has the name Nithin 

 Shiyithi, and the publication of a Japanese 

 Code ; the officers were directed to dress in 

 the European fashion. The Shoi'n, or Council 

 of State, is to be enlarged into a hereditary 

 Chamber of the formerDaimios, corresponding 

 to the English Honse of Lords. Great efforts 

 were made, both by the Government and by 

 the communes, to promote the cause of in- 

 struction. The former began the establish- 

 ment of eight high-schools in different places. 

 In Kioto a large hospital was opened under 

 the direction of a German physician. On New- 

 Year's duy the Emperor, in a solemn audience, 



received the addresses of the diplomatic corps, 

 and on January 10th the Emperor and the 

 Empress, surrounded by the ladies of the 

 court, received the American and Russian 

 ambassadors, who presented their wives. 



Important improvements were begun in the 

 port of Uiogo. The work will continue several 

 years, and will require about $10,000,000. 



An order, comprising civil and military 

 classes, was established to reward the Japanese 

 who in any way may distinguish themselves. 

 The medals bear the inscription " for merit," 

 or "for bravery." 



On March 12th an embassy was sent to Chi- 

 na, to obtain the ratification of the treaty con- 

 cluded with that country. It took place on 

 April 30th atTsientsin. The ambassador then 

 wentto Peking, where in common with the am- 

 bassadors of other foreign powers he was re- 

 ceived in the first audience given by the young 

 Emperor to the foreign ministers. (See CHINA.) 



The relations of Japan to foreign countries 

 were on the whole of an amicable character. 

 On the island of Saghalien, the northern half of 

 which is occupied by the Russians while the 

 southern part is claimed by the Japanese, fre- 

 quent conflicts occurred between Japanese set- 

 tiers and Russian soldiers. The Russians 

 opened diplomatic negotiations for obtaining 

 possession of the entire island. 



Difficulties with Corea, which refused to pay 

 the usual sum, led in October to a ministerial 

 crisis. Public opinion was clamorous for a 

 declaration of war ; but the ministers were de- 

 cidedly opposed to it, and offered their resig- 

 nation. After some hesitation, the Emperor 

 concluded to retain the ministry, and give up 

 the expedition. 



Owing to the remonstrances of the foreign 

 Governments, Japan, during the year 1873, put 

 an end to the persecution of the native Chris- 

 tians. The edict against the Christians was 

 officially suppressed throughout the empire. 

 In January 34 native Christians of Nagasaki, 

 who had been exiled to the province of Kanga, 

 were pardoned and sent back to their homes. 

 In April 1,938 other Christians returned from 

 their exile in the remotest provinces of the 

 empire to their homes in the neighborhood of 

 Nagasaki. In several places the edict of toler- 

 ation caused profound dissatisfaction, especially 

 in the rural districts, in some of which the 

 Government had to suppress insurrectionary 

 attempts. 



An edict, issued on January 22d, allowed 

 the Buddhist priestesses and nuns to marry, 

 and abolished the prohibition to eat meat. 

 The same directions had been given in favor 

 of the Buddhist priests several months ago. 

 Both the Buddhist priests and those of the 

 Shinto religion were deprived by imperial 

 edicts of the salaries which they had formerly 

 received from the state ; they are henceforth 

 to be supported by voluntary contributions. 

 The Japanese newspapers were often ridicul- 

 ing both creeds and religion in general. 



