Changes

In March 1879, his father Shô Tai formally abdicated upon the orders of the [[Meiji government]], which abolished the kingdom, transforming ''[[Ryûkyû han]]'' into [[Okinawa Prefecture]], with officials appointed from [[Tokyo]] to administer the islands<ref>Kerr, George H. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2003. p428.</ref> The former king was ordered to report to Tokyo, but feigning illness, he temporarily found shelter at Shô Ten’s palace. Shô Ten was sent to Tokyo as a hostage and partial appeasement as Ryukyuan officials searched for ways to delay the former king’s departure.<ref>Keene, Donald. ''Emperor Of Japan: Meiji And His World, 1852-1912'' New York: Columbia University Press, 2005. pp. 305-307.</ref>

In March 1879, his father Shô Tai formally abdicated upon the orders of the [[Meiji government]], which abolished the kingdom, transforming ''[[Ryûkyû han]]'' into [[Okinawa Prefecture]], with officials appointed from [[Tokyo]] to administer the islands<ref>Kerr, George H. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. (revised ed.) Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2003. p428.</ref> The former king was ordered to report to Tokyo, but feigning illness, he temporarily found shelter at Shô Ten’s palace. Shô Ten was sent to Tokyo as a hostage and partial appeasement as Ryukyuan officials searched for ways to delay the former king’s departure.<ref>Keene, Donald. ''Emperor Of Japan: Meiji And His World, 1852-1912'' New York: Columbia University Press, 2005. pp. 305-307.</ref>

Following his father's death and his succession as Marquis and head of the Shô family in 1901, Shô Ten and his family gave up the trappings of traditional Ryukyuan royal court life, costume, court language, and ritual, and adopted those of the Japanese peerage.

Following his father's death and his succession as Marquis and head of the Shô family in 1901/8, Shô Ten and his family gave up the trappings of traditional Ryukyuan royal court life, costume, court language, and ritual, and adopted those of the Japanese peerage.

As Marquis, Shô Ten held a hereditary seat in the [[House of Peers]] in the [[Diet of Japan|National Diet]]. He was joined in representing Okinawa by a Japanese resident appointed to represent the prefecture's wealthiest taxpayers for the first time in 1918<ref name=Kerr381>Kerr. p381.</ref>.

As Marquis, Shô Ten held a hereditary seat in the [[House of Peers]] in the [[Diet of Japan|National Diet]]. He was joined in representing Okinawa by a Japanese resident appointed to represent the prefecture's wealthiest taxpayers for the first time in 1918<ref name=Kerr381>Kerr. p381.</ref>.