Senior statesmen's conferences, which took over the official duties of genro (retired elder Japanese statesmen), were held during the Showa period in the form of responding to the Emperor's request for advice regarding the selection of a succeeding Prime Minister and the nation's important issues.
重臣会議（じゅうしんかいぎ）は、昭和時代に元老の職掌を引き継ぐ形で、後継の内閣総理大臣の選定や国家の重要事項に関して、天皇の諮問に答える形で開かれた会議。