In 1896, the army and navy bureaus were merged to form the Military Affairs Bureau, and the General Affairs, Judicial and Communication Bureaus were separated from the Home Affairs Bureau, which separation resulted in the establishment of the seven-bureau system.
1896年、陸海軍両局が統合され軍務局に、また民政局より総務、法務、通信の各局が分離し7局体制が確立した。