English

Etymology

From etyl ja 元老.

Pronunciation

• a UK /ˈgɛnrəʊ/

Noun

1. A body of elder statesmen of Japan, formerly used as informal advisors to the Emperor.
   • 2007: That last part was in line with the genro Prince Saionji's advice to the Emperor: advice which the Emperor ignored. — Clive James, Cultural Amnesia (Picador 2007, p. 814)

Esperanto

Noun

1. genus

Portuguese

Noun

1. son-in-law

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