After the Shōgunate fell, but before feudalism was formally abolished, that is, from 1867 to 1871, the chiefs of the clans were allowed to continue their administration of local affairs under the title of _chi-hanji_ (local governor). But when feudalism was formally abolished in 1871, these feudal lords were retired on annuities; their fiefs (263 in number) were incorporated, regardless of former geographical and feudal boundaries, and with regard for convenience of administration by the central government, into 72 _Ken_ and 3 _Fu_; and outsiders were largely appointed to the position of governor in these new local governments. The first attempts on the part of the central government to consult local public opinion were by means of meetings of the local officials; but the people were gradually allowed, in rather an informal and limited way, to have a voice in certain matters. In 1878, however, as we have seen, prefectural assemblies, the members of which should be chosen by popular election, were established; and just ten years later a law extending local self-government to cities, towns, and villages was enacted, to go into effect in 1889. And these two agencies of local self-government in Japan are worthy of a little study. The Japanese _Kenkwai_ and _Fukwai_ correspond, in general, with an American State legislature, but differ in many respects, because they are part of a centralized national administration. They are “to counsel about the budget of expenses to be met by local taxation, and about the manner of collecting such taxes.” The members are elected in each _Ken_ or _Fu_ according to the population, at the rate of 1 member for each 20,000 people. Each electoral district may also elect _yobi-in_ (reserve members), twice the number of regular members. As their name indicates, they are to take the places of regular members who may for any reason be unable to serve. It is, therefore, unlikely that there would ever be a vacancy to be filled by a special election; for each member has two “substitutes” ready to step into his vacant place! The term of service covers 4 years; but half of the members retire every 2 years. Each member receives an emolument of 1 _yen_ _per diem_ during the session, and travelling expenses. A candidate for representative in a prefectural assembly must be over 25 years of age, a permanent resident of that _Ken_ or _Fu_, and be paying an annual land-tax of more than 10 _yen_. Voters in such an election must be over 20 years of age, permanent residents of that _Ken_ or _Fu_, and be paying annual land-taxes of more than 5 _yen_. There are about 2,000,000 voters in all.