ABSTRACT
W E have already noted incidentally in pre-ceding chapters some of the steps in the development of local self-government in
Japan; and now we must treat that subject more particularly. First it is well to observe in passing that the steps from feudalism to local self-government were not so difficult as might be imagined; for under the feudal system local government by clan~ had prevailed.1 And yet when feudalism was abolished, the reconstruction of local government was entered upon slowly and cautiously in order to minimize jealousies and other obstacles.
