Changes

*1872/7/25 The Ryukyuan mission departs Ryûkyû.

*1872/7/25 The Ryukyuan mission departs Ryûkyû.

*1872/9/2 Prince Ie and Giwan Chôho arrive at [[Shinagawa]].

*1872/9/2 Prince Ie and Giwan Chôho arrive at [[Shinagawa]].

*1872/9 The railroad connecting Yokohama to Shinagawa is extended to [[Shinbashi]] ([[Shiodome]]), and is officially opened by the Meiji Emperor.

*1872/9/7 [[Telegraph]] lines connecting Tokyo and Kyoto are completed.

*1872/9/9 The railroad connecting Yokohama to Shinagawa is extended to [[Shinbashi]] ([[Shiodome]]). Opening ceremonies are delayed on account of rain.

*1872/9/12 The Meiji Emperor presides over opening ceremonies for the new Shinbashi train station, and for the railroad linking Shinbashi with Shinagawa and Yokohama.

*1872/9/14 Prince Ie and Giwan Chôho ''[[ueekata]]'' meet with Emperor Meiji. They are informed of the annexation by Japan of the kingdom as [[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]], and the "promotion" of King [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] to "Lord of Ryûkyû han" and a member of the [[kazoku|peerage]]. The envoys return to [[Okinawa]] and inform King Shô Tai of this development.

*1872/9/14 Prince Ie and Giwan Chôho ''[[ueekata]]'' meet with Emperor Meiji. They are informed of the annexation by Japan of the kingdom as [[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]], and the "promotion" of King [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] to "Lord of Ryûkyû han" and a member of the [[kazoku|peerage]]. The envoys return to [[Okinawa]] and inform King Shô Tai of this development.

*1872/9/18 (Oct 20) [[Charles DeLong]], US Diplomatic Minister resident in Japan, writes to [[Foreign Minister]] [[Soejima Taneomi]], asking if the Japanese government was going to honor provisions agreed to in treaties between the Ryûkyû Kingdom and foreign powers.

*1872/9/18 (Oct 20) [[Charles DeLong]], US Diplomatic Minister resident in Japan, writes to [[Foreign Minister]] [[Soejima Taneomi]], asking if the Japanese government was going to honor provisions agreed to in treaties between the Ryûkyû Kingdom and foreign powers.

*1872/9 The Kingdom of Ryûkyû is released from its vassal status under Kagoshima prefecture (formerly [[Satsuma han]]), and comes under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]. The ''[[zaiban bugyo|zaiban bugyôsho]]'' (Satsuma's office in Ryûkyû) is abolished, and replaced by an office of the Foreign Ministry, albeit with many of the same Satsuma/Kagoshima staff.

*1872/9 The Kingdom of Ryûkyû is released from its vassal status under Kagoshima prefecture (formerly [[Satsuma han]]), and comes under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]. The ''[[zaiban bugyo|zaiban bugyôsho]]'' (Satsuma's office in Ryûkyû) is abolished, and replaced by an office of the Foreign Ministry, albeit with many of the same Satsuma/Kagoshima staff.

*1872/9/28 A [[Dajokan|Dajôkan]] Proclamation has the official copies of Ryûkyû's formal treaties with [[Treaty of Amity (Ryukyu-US)|the US]], [[Treaty of Amity (Ryukyu-France)|France]], and [[Treaty of Amity (Ryukyu-Holland)|the Netherlands]] confiscated by Tokyo.

*1872/9/28 A [[Dajokan|Dajôkan]] Proclamation has the official copies of Ryûkyû's formal treaties with [[Treaty of Amity (Ryukyu-US)|the US]], [[Treaty of Amity (Ryukyu-France)|France]], and [[Treaty of Amity (Ryukyu-Holland)|the Netherlands]] confiscated by Tokyo.

*1872/12/2 The last day of the use of the [[Japanese calendar|lunar calendar]].

*1872/12/2 The last day of the use of the [[Japanese calendar|lunar calendar]]. The following day is Jan 1, 1873.

==Other Events of 1872==

==Other Events of 1872==

*A school is established in Tokyo for the assimilation/education of the [[Ainu]].

*A school is established in Tokyo for the assimilation/education of the [[Ainu]].

*The [[Asiatic Society of Japan]], a scholarly association of Western scholars, is established in [[Yokohama]].

*The [[Asiatic Society of Japan]], a scholarly association of Western scholars, is established in [[Yokohama]].

*The word ''bijutsu'' ("art") is coined, in connection with the [[1873 Vienna Exposition]] the following year.

*The word ''bijutsu'' ("art") is coined, in connection with the [[1873 Vienna World's Fair]] the following year.

*The [[:Image:Meiji-official-portrait.jpg|first official photo portraits]] of Emperor Meiji are taken by [[Uchida Kuichi]] (72 shots in the first session).

*The [[:Image:Meiji-official-portrait.jpg|first official photo portraits]] of Emperor Meiji are taken by [[Uchida Kuichi]] (72 shots in the first session).

*[[Fukuchiyama castle]] is destroyed.

*[[Fukuchiyama castle]] is destroyed.

*[[Kururi castle]] is destroyed.

*[[Kururi castle]] is destroyed.

*The [[1872 Kyoto Exposition]] includes the introduction of the ''ryûrei'' style of [[tea ceremony]], conducted seated on chairs at a table.

*The [[1872 Kyoto Exposition]] includes the introduction of the ''ryûrei'' style of [[tea ceremony]], conducted seated on chairs at a table.

*Frenchman Charles LeGendre is hired as an advisor by the Japanese government.

*French-born American Charles LeGendre is hired as an advisor by the Japanese government.

*[[Maria Luz Incident]] - a Peruvian ship carrying Chinese coolies calls at Yokohama, leading to a diplomatic incident when the coolies declare they are being mistreated and request aid from Japanese authorities.

*[[Maria Luz Incident]] - a Peruvian ship carrying Chinese coolies calls at Yokohama, leading to a diplomatic incident when the coolies declare they are being mistreated and request aid from Japanese authorities.

*[[Matsudaira Katamori]] ends his self-imposed confinement entered following the [[Boshin War]].

*[[Matsudaira Katamori]] ends his self-imposed confinement entered following the [[Boshin War]].

*The [[Morita-za]] [[kabuki]] theater is moved from Saruwaka-chô to Shintomi-chô, and rebuilt as a larger structure. This was the first time a theatre opened or operated outside of Saruwaka-chô since the [[1842]] edict restricting the theatres to that district.

*The [[Morita-za]] [[kabuki]] theater is moved from Saruwaka-chô to Shintomi-chô, and rebuilt as a larger structure. This was the first time a theatre opened or operated outside of Saruwaka-chô since the [[1842]] edict restricting the theatres to that district.

*The [[Ministry of Education]] organizes an art exhibition at the [[Yushima Seido|Yushima Seidô]] in [[Tokyo]]. Objects are displayed in a Western manner, in display cases.

*The [[Ministry of Education]] organizes an art exhibition at the [[Yushima Seido|Yushima Seidô]] in [[Tokyo]]. This is considered the first Domestic Exposition in Japan. Some 190,000 people attend.

*[[Education in the Meiji period|Nationwide system of elementary schools]] is established.

*[[Education in the Meiji period|Nationwide system of elementary schools]] is established.

*[[Nishio castle]] is torn down.

*[[Nishio castle]] is torn down.

*The government issues the [[Ordinance Relating to Public Morals]] (''Ishiki kaii jorei''), banning the sale or consumption of sexually explicit art.

*The government issues the [[Ordinance Relating to Public Morals]] (''Ishiki kaii jorei''), banning the sale or consumption of sexually explicit art.

*The [[Prostitute Emancipation Act]] (''geishôgi kaihôrei'') is issued; ''[[burakumin]]'' and certain types of bonded laborers and servants are also granted a certain degree of freedom, liberties, and rights.

*The [[Prostitute Emancipation Act]] (''geishôgi kaihôrei'') is issued; ''[[burakumin]]'' and certain types of bonded laborers and servants are also granted a certain degree of freedom, liberties, and rights.

*[[Yanagihara Sakimitsu]], a Japanese official in Shanghai, reports back to Japan about the [[Taiwan Incident of 1871]], in which 54 Ryuykuans were killed by Taiwanese aborigines.

*[[Yanagihara Sakimitsu]], a Japanese official in Shanghai, reports back to Japan about the [[Taiwan Incident of 1871]], in which 54 Ryuykuans were killed by [[Taiwanese aborigines]].

*Ryukyuan survivors of the Taiwan incident are returned to Ryukyu via [[Fuzhou]]. King [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] sends his official thanks to the Chinese emperor and authorities for rescuing and returning his subjects.

*Ryukyuan survivors of the Taiwan incident are returned to Ryukyu via [[Fuzhou]]. King [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]] sends his official thanks to the Chinese emperor and authorities for rescuing and returning his subjects.

*[[Saigo Tanomo|Saigô Tanomo]], confined since the end of the [[battle of Hakodate]], is released.

*[[Saigo Tanomo|Saigô Tanomo]], confined since the end of the [[battle of Hakodate]], is released.

*[[Takato castle|Takatô castle]] is destroyed.

*[[Takato castle|Takatô castle]] is destroyed.

*The [[Tsukiji Hotel]] (completed [[1868]]) is destroyed by fire.

*The [[Tsukiji Hotel]] (completed [[1868]]) is destroyed by fire.