貴族院
The
Kizokuin, or "House of Peers," was the
upper house of the
Diet under the
Meiji Constitution of
Japan. It was composed of the
Imperial family, the various levels of Japanese
nobility (former
samurai families), and
commoners appointed by the
Emperor. In many ways, it was similar to the
House of Lords in the
parliament of the
United Kingdom.
Very little was specified about the House of Peers in the constitution, except that it would be prorogued in the event of the dissolution of the House of Representatives. This made it a convenient legislative tool for Japan's oligarchy, and indeed many, if not most, of Japan's prewar leaders came from within its ranks with the sanction of the genro (Meiji oligarchs). Famous presidents of the House include Ito Hirobumi and Konoe Fumimaro.
It is unsurprising, then, that the House of Peers was replaced by a more Americanized House of Councillors with the Japanese Constitution of 1946.