1878
Meiji 11 (明治十一年)
Timeline of 1878
- 1878/5 He Ruzhang, Chinese Resident Diplomatic Minister in Tokyo, recommends to Beijing that strong measures be taken against Japan's efforts to absorb Ryûkyû.
- 1878/5 Itô Hirobumi replaces Ôkubo Toshimichi as Minister of the Interior.
- 1878/5/23 A formal imperial tour of the Tôkai and Hokuriku regions, temporarily put on hold from the previous year on account of the Satsuma Rebellion, is scheduled to begin in the 8th month.
- 1878/8 Emperor Meiji sets out on a tour of the Tôkai and Hokuriku regions.
- 1878/9/3 He Ruzhang meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Terajima Munenori to protest the cutting off of diplomatic relations between China and Ryûkyû.
- 1878/9/27 He Ruzhang meets with Terajima again, arguing again against Japan's interference in China-Ryûkyû relations.
- 1878/10 Peking protests Tokyo's attempts to end the tributary relationship between China and Ryûkyû.
- 1878/11 The ethnic status or identity of the Ainu is legally stripped away as they are assimilated into the Japanese nation as "kyû dojin" (former aborigines).
- 1878/12/28 Matsuda Michiyuki, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, closes the Ryukyuan resident office in Tokyo and expels all Ryukyuan official representatives from the city.
Other Events of 1878
- Ernest Fenollosa arrives in Japan.
- Emile Guimet puts his collection of Japanese art on display in Paris.
- Matsuda Michiyuki presents to Itô Hirobumi his plan for the "disposal" of Ryûkyû.
- Mutsu Munemitsu is imprisoned for aiding in the Satsuma Rebellion; he is freed in 1883.
- A group of former Ryukyuan officials, including Tomikawa Seikei and Yonahara Ryôketsu present to British Ambassador Harry Parkes, in Tokyo, a petition that he take action to save their country.
- Shô Ten, Crown Prince of Ryûkyû, has his coming of age ceremony and is married.
- A ban is placed on depicting the emperor in popular prints, though the ban is widely ignored by print publishers and designers.
- Takatsuki castle is torn down.
- The US Consulate in Hakodate is closed.
- Japan exhibits at the 1878 Paris World's Fair.
- Painter Yamamoto Hôsui arrives in Paris.
Births and Deaths
- 1878/5/14 Ôkubo Toshimichi is assassinated (b. 1830).
- Kaburagi Kiyokata is born (d. 1972).
- Yoshida Shigeru is born (d. 1967).
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