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A Roment of NasunlopmeveDe

The Meiji era’s
peerage system

The nobles who developed
Nasunogahara

Until the Edo period, Japanese aristocracy
consisted of nobles who served theemperor. In contrast, the kazoku were a
new aristocratic class created in the Meiji
era. As the Meiji government changed thegovernmental system, the domains ruledby feudal lords were replaced byprefectures, and the lords no longer ruled
their domains. To maintain their highsocietal positions, nobles of the imperial
court, feudal lords, and those whocontributed to the Meiji Restoration wereincluded in the new peerage system. The
five ranks in increasing order of importancewere baron, viscount, count, marquis, andduke, with privileges and duties establishedfor each. The peerage system continued
until the new constitution was enacted in1947.

Aristocrats of the Meiji era flocked to Nasunogahara to establish farms anddevelop agricultural land. These nobles, or kazoku, included many notable
figures from the Meiji Restoration and the Meiji government.
Hanna Aoki, daughter ofShuzo Aoki. Shuzo married
Elisabeth, the daughter of a
German aristocrat, while inGermany as a diplomat. Hanna
was their only child.

Ladies’ Charity Party at Rokumeikan
A picture of a charity bazaar held at
Rokumeikan by wives of high-ranking officials.

Tosuke Hirata(1849-1925)
Government official andpolitician. Count. Took over
Shinagawa Kaikon (laterKasamatsu Farm) andestablished the Shinagawa
Credit Union.

7Iwao Oyama(1842-1916)
Military officer andpolitician. Duke. Established
Kajiyakaikonjo in 1881 andOyama Farm in 1901.

Masayoshi Matsukata(1835-1924)
Politician. Duke. EstablishedSenbonmatsu Farm in 1893.

Courtnobles

Feudallords

From the Meiji era until 1947

Kazokuperson of
meritorious
servicecreated to unify
the ruling class1947 and thereafter

Peeragesystemabolished

Those who
contributed to theMeiji Restoration

Life of the nobles
Many nobles led lives of luxury by investing the stipend theyreceived from the government, for example. Many also adopted
Western influences, mingling with foreigners and dancing at social
spaces such as Rokumeikan as part of an elegant lifestyle.

Perhaps driven by dreams of owning land near Tokyo like a Western noble’s estate,many nobles built farms and villas in Nasunogahara. Here are some of the nobles
with close ties to Nasunogahara.

(1844-1914)
Diplomat and politician.
Viscount. Established Aoki
Farm in 1881.

Up until the Edo period

The House of Peers
During the Meiji era, the Imperial Diet consisted of the House of Representatives and the House ofPeers. Only those from privileged classes such as imperial family members and nobles could become
members of the House of Peers.

Nobles with ties toNasunogahara

Shuzo Aoki

The peerage system

Judo Saigo

Yajiro Shinagawa(1843-1902)
Military officer andpolitician. Marquis.
Established Kajiyakaikonjoin 1881 and Saigo Farm in1901.

(1843-1900)
Diplomat and politician.
Viscount. Established
Shinagawa Farm in 1883.

Michitsune Mishima

Aritomo Yamagata(1835-1888)
Government official.
Viscount. Established
Chokosha in 1880 andMishima Farm in 1886.

Maresuke Nogi

(1849-1912)
Military officer andeducator. Count. Built avilla in Ishibayashi, Karino
Village in 1891.
Photo from Nogi Shrine’s collection.

(1838-1922)
Military officer andpolitician. Duke. EstablishedYamagata Farm in 1884.
Photo from General YamagataMemorial Museum’s collection.

Akiyoshi Yamada(1844-1892)
Miliary officer andpolitician. Count.
Established Yamada Farm in1888.
Photo from Yamada Museum’s collection.

Rokumeikana Western-stylevenue built for social
events for foreign
diplomats, etc. aspart of a national
policy ofmodernization
through the adoptionof Western systems
and culture.
Photo from Kasumi Kaikan.

Western wear of the nobles
Left: court uniform of civil officials (1925). Right: court uniform of civil
officials and women’s robe decollete (replica).

Western tableware
tableware used by the MasayoshiMatsukata household, bearing his
family crest. The dishes weremade in England, and the knives,forks, spoons, etc. were made inFrance.

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