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| 1890 |
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| The emperor formally approved the new civil, commercial, and criminal codes of law based on Western models (considered too Western in some circles), in order to eliminate the necessity for extraterritoriality. Mexico had already (1888) granted Japan judicial autonomy over Mexicans in Japan. The civil code was put in force in 1892 and 1898, and the criminal code in 1899. | 1 |
| The Rescript on Education was promulgated, revealing a sharply conservative turn in the state's aims for education. Neo-Confucianism was married to loyalty to the throne and state. | 2 |
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| July |
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| The first general elections, by males age 25 or older who paid direct national taxes of 15 yen or more (460,000 qualified voters out of a population of some 42 million), were held. The Imperial Diet subsequently convened for the first time. The opposition parties won an overwhelming percentage of seats in the lower house; Yamagata Aritomo dissolved it. | 3 |
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