Changes

*1872/4/24 Deputy [[Finance Minister]] [[Inoue Kaoru]] suggests ending [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryûkyû's]] [[tribute|tributary relations]] with China and incorporating Ryûkyû into Japan. The [[Minister of the Left]] opposes this suggestion, arguing that Ryûkyû should remain subordinate and not be made a ''[[han]]'' or otherwise counted as ''naichi'', and further that since the Ryukyuans are ethnically not Japanese, the Ryukyuan king and royal family should not be made ''[[kazoku]]'' (Japanese aristocracy).

*1872/4/24 Deputy [[Finance Minister]] [[Inoue Kaoru]] suggests ending [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Ryûkyû's]] [[tribute|tributary relations]] with China and incorporating Ryûkyû into Japan. The [[Minister of the Left]] opposes this suggestion, arguing that Ryûkyû should remain subordinate and not be made a ''[[han]]'' or otherwise counted as ''naichi'', and further that since the Ryukyuans are ethnically not Japanese, the Ryukyuan king and royal family should not be made ''[[kazoku]]'' (Japanese aristocracy).

*1872/5 Officials from Tokyo meet with Ryukyuan officials to discuss economic matters, including the end of the minting of Okinawan coinage (which had been minted in Satsuma up until that point).

*1872/5 Officials from Tokyo meet with Ryukyuan officials to discuss economic matters, including the end of the minting of Okinawan coinage (which had been minted in Satsuma up until that point).

*1872/6 The Meiji government requests, via the authorities in [[Kagoshima prefecture]], that the Ryûkyû Kingdom is ordered to send messengers to officially congratulate the [[Emperor Meiji|Meiji Emperor]] on the success of the [[Meiji Restoration]].

*1872/6 The Meiji government requests, via the authorities in [[Kagoshima prefecture]], that the Ryûkyû Kingdom is ordered to send messengers to officially congratulate the [[Emperor Meiji|Meiji Emperor]] on the success of the [[Meiji Restoration]].

*1872/8/1 [[Prince Ie]] and [[Giwan Choho|Giwan Chôho]], leading a mission to Tokyo, arrive at [[Shinagawa]].

*1872/8/1 [[Prince Ie]] and [[Giwan Choho|Giwan Chôho]], leading a mission to Tokyo, arrive at [[Shinagawa]].

*1872/8/26 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.

*1872/8/26 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.

*1872/8 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.

*1872/8 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.

*1872/9/18 (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.

*1872/9/23-27 Soejima Taneomi meets with Charles DeLong and [[Charles LeGendre]] (legal and policy advisor to the Meiji government), and is advised that since the Chinese do not exert effective (''de facto'') control over certain sections of [[Taiwan]] - those dominated by aborigines - the territory is essentially ''terra nullius'', and if Japan were to occupy the territory, under Western/modern international law, it could be rightfully Japan's.

*1872/9/23-27 Soejima Taneomi meets with Charles DeLong and [[Charles LeGendre]] (legal and policy advisor to the Meiji government), and is advised that since the Chinese do not exert effective (''de facto'') control over certain sections of [[Taiwan]] - those dominated by aborigines - the territory is essentially ''terra nullius'', and if Japan were to occupy the territory, under Western/modern international law, it could be rightfully Japan's.

*[[Odawara castle]] is torn down.

*[[Odawara castle]] is torn down.

*The [[Prostitute Emancipation Act]] 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]] 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.