Because the Emperor Meiji was then only fifteen years old, some court nobles including Tomomi IWAKURA and some retainers of Satsuma and Choshu domains took the political initiative, but, nevertheless, emperor's direct administration was formally declared.
明治天皇は満15歳と若く、政治の実権は岩倉具視ら一部の公家と薩摩藩・長州藩が掌握していたが、形式上は天皇親政を宣言するものであった。