1. Japanese Politics:
Form of Government

2. 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

3. 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

4. 
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

5. Notable Shogunates

Kamakura
− Ruled by the Minamoto clan

Muromachi
− Ruled by the Ashikaga clan

Edo
− Ruled by the Tokugawa clan

6. 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~! :)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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