Emperor Meiji issued the Imperial Rescript on the Opening of the National Diet, committing the government to open a national assembly by 1890—creating a hard deadline that accelerated constitutional and institutional preparation.
Itō Hirobumi departed on a European study mission to examine constitutional systems, a key step in selecting models (especially German/Prussian) and gathering expertise for Japan’s coming constitution.
Ōkuma Shigenobu founded the Rikken Kaishintō (Constitutional Reform Party), strengthening organized political advocacy for constitutional government and parliamentary politics ahead of the planned Diet.
The government established the modern kazoku peerage system (duke/marquess/count/viscount/baron), creating an elite foundation for a future upper chamber (House of Peers) within the coming constitutional order.
The Meiji government abolished the Dajōkan (Grand Council of State) and replaced it with a Western-style cabinet system. Itō Hirobumi was appointed Japan’s first Prime Minister, creating executive structures designed to function alongside a future Diet.
An imperial ordinance created the Privy Council (Sūmitsu-in) under Itō Hirobumi’s presidency, institutionalizing high-level review of the draft constitution and other key constitutional matters before promulgation.
Itō Hirobumi stepped down as Prime Minister after overseeing major pre-constitutional reforms; Kuroda Kiyotaka succeeded him as the constitutional project moved toward finalization and formal promulgation.
Emperor Meiji promulgated the Constitution of the Empire of Japan (Meiji Constitution), defining a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral Diet, while preserving strong imperial prerogatives and an emperor-appointed cabinet.
Under the new constitutional framework, Japan prepared for elections to the House of Representatives with highly restricted suffrage (notably a substantial tax qualification), shaping the early character of parliamentary politics.
Japan held its first general election for the House of Representatives, filling all 300 seats and inaugurating competitive national electoral politics within the new constitutional system.
The Meiji Constitution formally entered into force, marking the operational start of the new constitutional regime in advance of the Diet’s opening.
The First Imperial Diet opened, bringing the House of Representatives and House of Peers into session and beginning Japan’s first sustained experiment with constitutional, bicameral national legislation under the Meiji state framework.
Drafting and Promulgation of the Meiji Constitution and the First Imperial Diet (1885–1890)
