On July 25, 1869, together with Hanseki Hokan (the return of the lands and people to the emperor), the administration issued the promulgation No. 54 "About abolishing the titles of Ko (top ministers), Kei (top councilors and court officials over the fourth rank), and Shoko (lords), and changing the titles to Kazoku" which stipulated that the titles of Ko, Kei and Shoko in the former class system should be abolished, and they should be called "kazoku."
明治2年6月17日(旧暦)（1869年7月25日）、版籍奉還と同日に出された行政官布達（公卿諸侯ノ称ヲ廃シ華族ト改ム）54号により、従来の身分制度の公卿・諸侯の称を廃し、これらの家は華族となることが定められた。