The Making of Modern Japan

part came into operation. Some five hundred peers in all were created,

the number including 12 princes, 24 marquises, 74 counts, 321 viscounts and 69 barons. The recipients of these new titles were the ex-_Kugé_, or Court nobles, the ex-daimiōs, who under the feudal system had constituted the territorial nobility, and ex-_samurai_, still in office, who had rendered eminent service t...