Episode 1 of 2

Constitution Enters Force

When: 1890-11-29
Where: Tokyo, Japan
Part of: Meiji Constitution takes effect and first Imperial Diet convenes

The Meiji Constitution, promulgated in 1889, officially entered into force on November 29, 1890, establishing the legal framework for the Empire of Japan.

Although the constitution was promulgated by Emperor Meiji on February 11, 1889, it did not become effective until November 29, 1890. This date marked the transition from the absolute monarchy period to a constitutional framework, albeit one where the Emperor retained significant power.

Sources

Meiji Constitution Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-25

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.