Japan: 150th anniversary of the introduction of modern imperial government remembered with new silver colour coin

Background photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

The Finance Ministry of Japan has launched (25th May) new silver coins which are in recognition of the restoration of imperial authority by Emperor Meiji, who succeeded to the Chrysanthemum Throne the year before the new emperor took control of the Empire of Japan. For more than two and a half centuries, Japan had been ruled by a shogunate, a military and feudal system of government. The last shogunate which ruled Japan was founded by Tokugawa (commander) Ieyasu (1543–1616) first shogun of the Tokugawas’ who would go on to rule from 1600 until the Meiji Restoration of Emperor Meiji in 1868. The change ended the feudal system and ushered in what developed into a constitutional monarchy which would see the succession of the Chrysanthemum Throne passed from father to son, or the next closest male member of the imperial family.

Emperor Meiji, or Meiji Tennō, whose given name was Mutsuhito, was born on the 3rd November 1852, in the former capital city of Kyōto as the second son of Emperor Kōmei. Declared crown prince in 1860, he succeeded to the Japanese throne in 1867 following the death of his father. On the day of his coronation ceremony, the new Emperor Mutsuhito took the regnal name of Meiji, which would henceforth be the name of his reign and era. It was at this time that the decline of the shogunate system of government was evident, coinciding with a swift modernisation of Japan. Emperor Meiji was at the helm of his country’s modernising in terms of industry, transport, the start of a constitutional government, and the rule of law. The emperor, unlike his father the late Emperor Komei, had wanted to see Japan in line with many western countries and with his executive authority restored, he was well-placed to carry out this reforms as well as opening Japan to international contacts with the outside world — thus ending more than two centuries of isolation.

In April 1868, Emperor Meiji initiated the Oath in Five Articles, which launched Japan on the course of westernization. The five articles of the charter not only steered the country into an industrial and political path to modernisation, but also culturally, as the emperor wanted his people to rely less on antiquated custom and practise. The five principles included:

1. Deliberative assemblies shall be established on an extensive scale, and all governmental matters shall be determined by public discussion.

2. All classes, high and low, shall unite to carry out vigorously the plan of government.

3. All classes shall be permitted to fulfil their just aspirations so that there will be no discontent.

4. Evil customs of the past shall be discontinued, and new customs shall be based on the just laws of nature.

5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world in order to promote the welfare of the empire.

As a result of the emperor’s initiatives, he formally ordered (though did not initiate) the abolition of the feudal land system, which occurred in 1871. The creation of a new school system was begun in 1872 and the adoption of the cabinet system of government was put into practise in 1885, which furthered the promulgation of Japan’s Constitution in 1889. Emperor Meiji also played active roles in the execution of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 to 1895 and the Russian-Japanese War from 1904 to 1905, in which the Imperial Japanese Navy affected heavy losses on the Imperial Russian Fleet. The emperor issued an edict proclaiming the annexation of Korea to Japan in 1910, ushering in the idea of a Japanese empire abroad. The rule of Emperor Meiji came to an end on the 30th July 1912, when he was succeeded by his son the Crown Prince Yoshihito. By the time of the end of Meiji’s era, Japan was dramatically transformed from a feudal country into one of the great powers of the modern world. Japan’s Emperor Akihito, who has announced his intention to abdicate on the 30th April 2019 is a direct descendant of the Emperor Mutsuhito. His eldest son, the Crown Prince Nauruhito, is expected to officially become Japan’s 126th Emperor on the 1st May.

Hover to zoom.

The obverse of the coin is a colourised design of the early Meiji period train station, whose design is based on a coloured woodblock print entitled Tokyo shiodome tetsudokan jokisha machiai no zu by Utagawa Hiroshige. The design also includes the official logo for the national celebrations MEIJI 150th, which is seen to the left of the primary design. The characters denoting the Bank of Japan are placed above the design and the value in Japanese characters are placed below.

The design of the reverse is reminiscent of the coinage issued in Japan in the late half of the 19th century and early 20th century with the inclusion of a classically depicted dragon holding a large pearl, which was seen of the obverse of the 20-yen gold coins issued in the early Meiji period. The inscriptions in Japanese denote the 30th year of the current emperor’s era, the denomination of 1000, and the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the restoration of the emperor’s authority.

Denom.

Metal

Weight Diameter Quality

Maximum Mintage

¥1,000

.999 Silver

31.1 g 40 mm Proof with applied colour

 50,000




This commemorative coin will not be available from financial institutions but will be made available through mail order by the Japan Mint. The sales information, including ordering procedures, will be announced on the website of the Japan Mint from 5:00 pm on August 2, 2018. Please check the information on this website for instructions on placing an order.

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