On the Financial Structure of "Ishin" Government

Abstract

I. It is widely known that among many studies about "Kinsatsu" (金札, note issued by "Ishin" government) there are two opinions-one is to put the emphasis on the character of "Shokusan-kogyo" (殖産興業, encouragement of industries) and the other is on the defrayment of government expenditure. Of course we cannot deny the former, but we think the latter fitted to the fact. In spite of the importance of the latter, however, it is not yet fully proved. So the author tries to make it clear that "Kinsatsu" was defrayed for the government expenditure. II. It has been so far neglected to consider "Kinsatsu" from the point of the attitude of people. The author intends to explain how "Ishin" government deceived people to manage them to be familiar with "Kinsatsu", through the study of the way of issuing "Kinsatsu", the situation of currency of it, the plan of exchange of new coin and note, and so on. III. It is no doubt that "Ishin" government was confronted with the financial difficulties, but it has been not yet fully cleared because of few historical materials on it. About the 1st and 2nd financial years we can say it was under the absolutely difficult finace. The 3rd and 4th, when the centralized institution of local finance was established, being different from them, the author tries to explain how the financial difficulties were, through the study of some plans of budget and some accounts of "Suitoshi" (出納司, the department taking charge of receipt and expenditure of treasury). Thus the author clears how "Ishin" government managed to deal with the difficulties by the deception of "Kinsatsu" as well as the severe collection of taxes and made "Haihanchiken" (廃藩置県, abolition of feudal clans and establishment of prefectures) inevitable.