Genrō

nihongo|Genrō|元老 was an unofficial designation given to certain retired elder Japanese statesmen, considered the "founding fathers" of modern Japan, who served as informal extraconstitutional advisors to the emperor, during the Meiji and Taisho periods in Japanese history.

The institution of "genrō" originated with the traditional council of elders ("Rōjū") common in the Edo period; however, the term "genrō" appears to have been coined by a newspaper only in 1892. The term is sometimes confused with the "Genroin" (Chamber of Elders), a legislative body which existed from 1875-1890; however, the "genrō" were not related to the establishment of that body or its dissolution.

Experienced leaders of the Meiji Restoration were singled out by the Emperor as "genkun", and asked to act as Imperial advisors. With the exception of Saionji Kinmochi, all the "genrō" were from medium or lower ranking "samurai" families, four each from Satsuma and Chōshū, the two former domains that had been instrumental in the overthrow of the former Tokugawa shogunate in the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration of 1867-1868. The "genrō" had the right to select and nominate Prime Ministers to the Emperor for approval.

The first seven genrō were all formerly members of the "Sangi" (Imperial Council) which was abolished in 1885. They are also sometimes known to historians as the Meiji oligarchy, although not all of the Meiji oligarchs were "genrō".

The institution expired in 1940, with the death of the last of the "genrō", Saionji Kinmochi.

List of genrō

References

*cite book
last = Gordon
first = Andrew
year = 2003
title = A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present
publisher = Oxford University Press
location =
id = ISBN 0195110617
*cite book
last = Jansen
first = Marius B.
year = 2000
title = The Making of Modern Japan
publisher = Belknap Press
location =
id = ISBN 0674009916
*cite book
last = Omura
first = Bunji
year = 1937, 2004 reprint
title = The Last Genro: Prince Saionji, Japan's "Grand Old Man"
publisher = Kegan Paul
location =
id = ISBN 0710309171