Culture

September 12 — Japan’s History and Today

September 11, 2026

On September 12, significant historical events such as the Purple Robes Incident in 1629 and the founding of Tokyo Horikakko in 1880 took place, highlighting key moments in Japanese religious politics and legal education.

The Purple Robes Incident of 1629 In 1629 (the 6th year of the Kan'ei era), the Tokugawa shogunate suspended the imperial approval allowing high-ranking virtuous monks to wear purple robes. This political move was aimed at curbing the power of the religious community and strengthening the shogunate’s authority. For foreign residents in Japan, this incident exemplifies how closely religion and political power were entwined in historical Japan.

Founding of Tokyo Horikakko in 1880 In 1880, legal scholars influenced by French law, led by Masakuni Satou, established the Tokyo Horikakko, which was renamed Tokyo Law School the following year and is now known as Hosei University. This event laid the foundation for modern legal education in Japan. Foreign students and residents can find this background helpful in understanding Japan’s contemporary law education system.