The
National Diet of Japan is not only a building that houses Japan’s prime organ
of state power. It is also a building that is rich in art and history. The
National Diet is open for visitors from Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
There is also a free guided tour around the building that is worth joining.
Visitors can enter the Visitors Gate at the Annex of the House of Councillors.
Before the
tour, the visitors will first be asked to wait at the House of Coucillors
Visitors Lobby where several important memorabilia are on display. This is the
only place in the whole building where visitors are allowed to take pictures.
Once the visitors enter the main building, taking pictures is then prohibited.
Some of the
interesting items on display are the following (explanation are based on the
flyer distributed to visitors of the National Diet):
Imperial Decree for the first Imperial Diet
Opening Ceremony. The first Imperial Diet convened in November 25, 1980 and
the Opening Ceremony was held on the 29th. The document displayed in
the Visitors’ Lobby is only a reproduction of the original decree which, was
issued to the members by Emperor Meiji.
Register of Members of the House of Peers. The
House of Peers was then composed of members of the Imperial family, men from
notable families and important people especially appointed by the Emperor. This
document is a list of these important people who are noted for their
distinguished service to the nation.
Apparatus for deciding group membership by
lot. When the session of the House of Peers began, it was necessary to
determine the group to which each member belonged. Group membership was decided
by lot and the election of members of several standing committees and the
allocation of members’ lobbies were based here.
The
apparatus was used from 1904 to 1936. To use the apparatus, balls with the name
of each member are placed inside. When the central rod is removed, the balls fall
into nine partitions, thereby determining the group to which each member
belong.
Apparatus for anonymous voting. To
vote, each member places a ball in one of the two designated slots. White balls
signify a positive response and a black one indicate a negative on. When all
members finish putting the balls, the apparatus is opened and the scales inside
indicate the numbers of votes cast.
Ballot box and devices for counting the
results of the open ballots. Ballot slips with the member’s name is
distributed before the voting takes place. There ballots are dropped in a
ballot box on the podium. After all the members finish voting, the ballots are
divided and placed side by side in the apparatus. The sales marking the inside
of the box, it is possible to calculate the number of votes in a quicker
manner.
Models of the Diet Building and the Chamber of the House of
Councillors. There are models that are prepared for the visually impaired so
visitors are free to touch them.
The Throne of his Majesty the Emperor. The throne made of gold was
in the chamber of the House of Peers from 1868-1912. It was used by the Emperor
during the opening ceremonies of the Diet. 
Replica of Members’ Seats. Visitors can sit on this replica press
the push-button voting device.
For people who want to explore more about Japan beyond the Cherry Blossoms and the Shinto Shrines, the National Diet is a good place to start.
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