From Daily Meetings to Legislative Assemblies
The word "Diet" has a surprising and complex history that traces back through centuries of European political life. Unlike the term's association with nutrition, this version comes from the Medieval Latin word dieta, meaning a "parliamentary assembly". This Latin term was itself derived from the Ancient Greek word diaita, meaning a "way of living" or "regimen," which initially included concepts of daily work. A false etymology, however, connected diaeta with the Latin word dies, meaning "day," which helped solidify the idea of a formal assembly that met regularly, or daily.
This association with the Latin word for day led to the term Tag in German, which means "day," but also evolved to refer to a formal council or parliamentary session. Historically, this linguistic connection was used to describe significant legislative gatherings in the Holy Roman Empire, such as the famous Diet of Worms. For English speakers translating these Germanic legislative bodies, "Diet" became the standard term.
The Prussian Model and the Meiji Restoration
The most direct reason Japan's legislature is called the Diet relates to its emulation of Western political systems during the Meiji Restoration. In the late 19th century, as Japan opened up and modernized, its leaders studied various European systems to create a new constitution. A delegation, notably led by statesman Itō Hirobumi, traveled extensively to learn about different models of governance.
They found inspiration in the constitution of the German Empire, which was a powerful and modernizing state at the time. The German legislative body was the Reichstag, a term directly descended from the Germanic tradition of calling such meetings a "day" or "diet". When creating its own Imperial Diet in 1889, Japan adapted this German model, including its bicameral structure. Subsequently, the English translation of the Japanese legislative body, Kokkai (国会, literally "national meeting"), inherited the historically distinct term "Diet" from its European precedents. This choice of terminology was part of a deliberate effort to adopt the forms of modern political life present in Western Europe.
The National Diet: Before and After WWII
The National Diet of Japan has a pre-war and post-war history, with significant changes following the adoption of the new constitution in 1947. The name remained, but the structure and democratic foundation were fundamentally altered.
| Feature | Imperial Diet (1890–1947) | National Diet (1947–Present) |
|---|---|---|
| Governing Document | Meiji Constitution of 1889 | Constitution of Japan of 1947 |
| Upper House | House of Peers (appointed by Emperor, nobility) | House of Councillors (elected by citizens) |
| Lower House | House of Representatives (elected by limited electorate) | House of Representatives (elected by universal suffrage) |
| Executive Power | Significant power held by Emperor; Prime Minister appointed by Emperor | Executive power vested in the Cabinet, which is accountable to the Diet; Prime Minister nominated by Diet |
| Democratic Scope | Limited democratic representation and power | Both houses directly elected by the citizenry |
Structure and Function of the Modern Diet
As the supreme body of state power, the modern National Diet is a bicameral legislature, meaning it has two houses.
- The House of Representatives (衆議院, Shūgiin): The more powerful of the two houses, with the ability to override the House of Councillors on certain matters.
- The House of Councillors (参議院, Sangiin): Functions as the upper house, elected for six-year terms.
Both houses are directly elected by the people and work together to pass laws, approve budgets, and oversee the government's actions. A significant function is the nomination of the Prime Minister, a role that was once held by the Emperor. For more details on the legislative process, consult the official website of the Japanese House of Representatives at https://www.shugiin.go.jp/.
Conclusion
The reason Japan's legislature is called the National Diet is a fascinating convergence of medieval European political terminology and 19th-century Japanese modernization efforts. It has nothing to do with food but is a historical legacy rooted in the Germanic tradition of naming assemblies. The term was adopted by Japan's Meiji-era reformers, who drew heavily from the German political model to create their modern state. This choice resulted in the unique name that distinguishes Japan's legislature in the English-speaking world, a testament to the country's deliberate and transformative engagement with Western political ideas during a pivotal moment in its history.
