Shozo Tanaka Biography 32

February 11,1889. 
The Constitution of Empire of Japan was promulgated.
The reason why it was February 11 was because it was on that day in the solar calendar that the emperor was born as a mechanism.
In the same year, the first general election was held and voting took place on July 1.
However,at that time, men and women of a certain age did not have the right to vote as they do today.
Only men over the age of 25 who paid at least 15 yen in national tax (the maximum monthly income of a common man was 3 yen) were given the right to vote.
In other words, only the rich people could vote. This is a
”Restricted Election”
Also, the right to be voted that was granted to men over 30 years old who had also paid at least 15 yen in national taxes.
Shozo Tanaka ran in the first of these general elections.
Although he was originally a wealthy, he had assets from the profit of land sales during the Seinan Civil War, so these requirements were met.
In addition, his management of the newspaper and his record as a member of the county council helped him to win the election.