The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-23
KE|KI TOKUGAWA,
LAST OF JAPANESE
SHOGUNS, IS DEAD
Unique Character and For
mer De FactO Ruler of
Japan Passes Away
in Toxic

New York. November 22.--The death of
Prince Keiki Tokugawa, announced in a
brief cablegram from Toxic today. sewers
a connecting link between the old and new
japanese regime None of the contempor-
aries of the pre-Maiji era, or the days of
the Shogaaate enjoyed such distinction as
hedged about Prince Keiki last of the
Shoguns. In these latter days of the era
of enlightenment in Japan 1t is doubtful
If the average foreign visitor or even res
idents was aware of the open unobstru-
sive existence of man who barely so
years ago was the de facto ruler of Japan
In contrast with the unassuming dig
nifty with which he sat as the lord of all
lords in the feudal days when it was
capital crime for ordinary people to look
the Shotgun in the face and when he
could scarcely stir a step without the OBJ
servance of a hide-bound code of solemn
ceremonial, the Shotgun in his modern role
of prince adopted such democratic sim
plcty' that he rode about the streets of
Toxic almost unnoticed on a bicycle and
unhooded.
AS Shotgun, the hereditary commander
in-chief of the army he wore the odd
dress of the Samurai with wing-lke pro-
jections over the shoulders and with two
swords, one long and the other short.
Discarded All Pomp
Among the twentieth century surround
ings living as a somewhat retiring old
man. Keiki discarded all the pomp and
rad in 6r
dinary frock coat.
He held his exalted office as Shotgun for
only 10 months in the year 1s67-6S.
During the Shogunate preceding him.
Japan had enjoyed an unbroken interval
of peace and tranquility for nearly three
centuries.
1t was at the time of his coming into
power that Japan found herself subiu-
gated to pressure from without which
threatened to force her to renounce her
time honored policy of entire isolation.
The Tokugawa Shogunate had to heed
the foreign demand and the Kanagwa
treaty was first signed with the plenipo-
tentiary of the United States as the Sc
quel to the visit OF Commodore Perry
with His Black Ships"
Up to that time the Emperor of Japan
was little more than a pawn in the dam
gerous game played between Yedo, now
Toxic, and Kioyto, as the rival eenters of
the japanese government.
In 1868 the imperial authority reasserted
Itself with an edict from Emperor Nut
suhito for the abolition of the Shogunate
and announcing the Emperors "Resump-
tion of the government"
Restored Imperial Throne
Prince KeiH continued the struggle
and intercine strife of almost endless dur
alton threatened to exhaust the state and
expose it as an easy prey to foreign op-
preston, when Keiki voluntarily abdi-
Gated and restored the powers of govern
ment to the imperial throne. He led
life of secluson for many years, but in
1898 he was invited by the Emperor to
take up his residence in Toxic and the
title of prince was conferred upon him.
The Japan Times in describing the incl
dent of his appearance as a guest at a
garden party given by Count Okuma in
1907 declared that the prince stood as an
emblem of the Japanese genius of civili-
zation, remarking the changes that had
been effected by "A revolution without
madness" since the days of the Shogu-
nate.