The Kazoku was a prominent and prestigious hereditary lineage of the Japanese Empire that lasted from 1869 until it was abolished by the constitution of 1947. It was an aristocracy that ended the feudalism in Japan and paved its way for offering more privileges and honoring those members of the country who served their nation exceptionally. As the feudal lords and the nobles of the court were merged into one class and their territories were put under the trust of the country, they adopted more of a European system of classification of their people according to ranks. There were princes, marquis, counts, viscounts and barons, that all got appointed from amongst the people according to their efforts to public service. After the tear 1889, they constituted the upper house of the Japanese legislature. (Britannica, 2016).
The Meiji Restoration was the precursor of the Kazoku that led to the ended the military rule in Japan and restored the rule of the country under the imperial, Emperor Meiji. The Meiji period was a time of social and political change, and it led to the modernization of Japan. The Kazoku were thus people who were entitled to fit in the domains of it. The heirs of the Kazoku were also ennobled, and they passed on their inheritance down the chains. Their lineage followed the rules of the British peerage because the top two officials holding the ranks of prince and marquis became members of the House of Peers and this happened through the process of succession. The lineage and titles were preserved by being passed down by lawful, legitimate children of the person holding the title as compared to illegitimate ones. In order to preserve their titles and power, the Kazuko used to adopt sons from adjoining branches of their own house so that the titles would be passed down as their own and their lineage would be protected. Similarly, an amendment allowed them to become heirs to childless peers thus carrying on their inheritance. (Britannica, 2016).
References
Britannica. (2016). “Japanese Nobility.” Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/topic/kazoku
