The Role of " Petition Box" in Pre-modern Japanese Policy

Faced with the crises Tokugawa rulers in Japan instituted a chain of reforms tactically and strategically to prevent the collapse of shogunate system. Guaranteeing the direct appeals (complaint, criticism and suggestion) by the inferiors to the superiors via the “petition box” in order to eradicate the official’s corruption and garnering information from society were amongst these reforms. The prevailing inertia of the government policy and bureaucracy which was a monopoly of samurai class made the rulers resort for public participation and the wisdom of the crowd by receiving useful criticisms and suggestions via the box. High rate of literacy and public awareness resulted in offering fine ideas and promotion of brilliant talents in bureaucratic system and adoption of proper policies. The spirit and essence of the box was also transferred in transition of Japanese society to modern era due to historical continuation and paved the way for the adoption of modern institutions such as parliament.