Hyōjōsho

The nihongo|Hyōjōsho|評定所|, established in 1634, was the judicial council in Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate. It was equivalent to the "Monchūjo" council of the earlier Kamakura shogunate. It was comprised of the "Rōjū" (Elders), the highest officials in the shogunate government, and a number of Commissioners called "Bugyō", who headed certain executive departments. The role of the Council was partially executive, and partially judicial, and they served from a Council Chamber within Edo Castle.

Unlike many modern governmental councils or organizations, the "Hyōjōsho" members had other responsibilities and powers, outside of being members of the Council. In addition to the "Rōjū", the members of the "Hyōjōsho" were the "Machi-Bugyō" (City Commissioners), "Jisha-Bugyō" (Commissioners of Shrines and Temples), "Kanjō-Bugyō" (Finance Commissioners), and the "Ō-Metsuke" (Chief Inspectors).

References

*Sansom, George (1963). "A History of Japan: 1615-1867." Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.