Changes

*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]].

*1872/6 A number of Ryukyuan officials greet the Meiji Emperor in [[Kagoshima]].

*1872/8/12 Prince Ie and Giwan Chôho ''[[ueekata]]'' meet with Emperor Meiji.

*1872/7 [[Prince Ie]] and [[Giwan Choho|Giwan Chôho]], leading a mission to Tokyo, arrive at Kagoshima.

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

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

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

*1872/9/14 Prince Ie and Giwan Chôho ''[[ueekata]]'' meet with Emperor Meiji.

*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.

*1872/10/14 Representatives of the Kingdom of Ryûkyû, led by Giwan Chôho, are informed in [[Tokyo]] 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.

*1872/10/14 Representatives of the Kingdom of Ryûkyû, led by Giwan Chôho, are informed in [[Tokyo]] 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.

*1872/12/2 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 [[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 Exposition]] 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.

*[[Geisha]] spectacles including [[Miyako odori]] and [[Kamogawa odori]] are first performed.

*[[Geisha]] spectacles including [[Miyako odori]] and [[Kamogawa odori]] are first performed.

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

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

*Western clothing is made mandatory for government and other official circumstances.

*Western clothing is made mandatory for government and other official circumstances.

*[[Yamaoka Tesshu|Yamaoka Tesshû]] becomes a chamberlain to [[Emperor Meiji]].

*[[Yamaoka Tesshu|Yamaoka Tesshû]] becomes a chamberlain to Emperor Meiji.

*[[Yanagawa castle]] burns down.

*[[Yanagawa castle]] burns down.