It was decided that, as Shishaku (子爵 commonly translated as viscount), Toshoke from kuge not meeting the criterion for Hakushaku and lord families from buke before the Meiji Restoration were eligible.
公家からは伯爵の要件を満たさない堂上家、武家からは維新前に諸侯であった家が子爵相当とされた。