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2-5 ITO Hirobumi's Constitutional Study Mission to Europe
ITO Hirobumi in Berlin during his constitutional study mission to Europe, 1882 (Meiji 15) From "Ito Hirobumi Hiroku: Zoku"
This is the Imperial Order commanding ITO Hirobumi to visit Europe to study constitutional systems. A separate document presents a concrete list of the thirty one different items to be studied, including each country's constitution, royal family, parliament (bicameral), cabinet, judiciary, local government systems, etc. On 14 March 1882 (Meiji 15), ITO set sail from Yokohama, and spent 14 months in Europe, traveling around Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Belgium, among others, listening to lectures by such men as Rudolf von GNEIST, Albert MOSSE, and Lorenz von STEIN.
Imperial Order to Dispatch Mission Head Plenipotentiary ITO to Europe to Study Constitutional Forms of Government
- 3 March 1882 (Meiji 15)
- Papers of ITO Hirobumi, Document #209
- National Diet Library