Rules for Living in Nagoya

By Imae Goro

Rules for Living in Nagoya

An Illustrated Guide to Misdemeanor Crimes under the Criminal Code

A translation of Ikeizai Zukai: Keiho Shoshutsu 違警罪図解 刑法抄出, this illustrated guide presents laws and regulations introduced in Japan following the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Although literacy rates were relatively high in major Japanese cities, simple illustrations helped ordinary citizens understand the offenses and prohibited activities described in the text.

The book was part of the Meiji government's broader effort to modernize Japanese society and reshape it along European lines, reflecting the contemporary slogan Datsu-A Nyu-O 脱亜入欧, "Leave Asia, Enter Europe." Distributed to citizens in Nagoya, it helped familiarize the public with the new regulations governing everyday life. Police officers were empowered to impose fines on the spot for certain violations.

Some of the offenses seem almost humorous today, such as startling a horse, while others are far more serious, such as burying a body without notifying the authorities. Together, these rules offer a fascinating glimpse into the laws, social expectations, and everyday concerns of a Japan emerging from the feudal era.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 195095952X
• ISBN13: 9781950959525
• Release Date: August 2022
• Publisher: Eric Michael Shahan
• Length: 74 Pages
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"