I hereby give My Sanction to the Imperial Ordinance concerning the Election of the Chief of a Chonaikai or Burakukai (Town or Village Neighbors Association) or of its Federation under the Imperial Ordinance No. 542 of 1945 relating to the Orders to be issued in consequence of the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration, and cause the same to be promulgated. Signed: HIROHITO, Seal of the Emperor This fourth day of the first month of the twenty-second year of Showa (January 4, 1947) Countersigned: Prime Minister YOSHIDA Shigeru Minister for Home Affairs OMURA Seiichi Imperial Ordinance No. 4 Headmen of Chonaikai, Burakukai and federation thereof shall be elected by universal adult suffrage of the inhabitants of the respective community concerned in accordance with regulations to be laid down by the electoral administration committee of ward in Tokyo Metropolis, city, town or village (including those corresponding to the above) conforming with the provisions in the Law for Organization of Tokyo Metropolis, Law for Organization of City, or Law for Organization of Town or Village concerning election of ward headman in Tokyo Metropolis, mayor or town or village headman, and shall perform only such functions as are provided by law. Persons who have held the position of headman of Burakukai, Chonaikai and federation thereof consecutively from the day of or prior to 1 September 1945 till 1 September 1946 shall be barred, even though they do not fall under the provisions of the Memorandum as prescribed in Article 3 of Imperial Ordinance No. 109 of 1946, from being candidates for headmanship, at the first election to be held in pursuance of the present Imperial Ordinance, and, furthermore, during four (4) years beginning with the day of said election. Supplementary Provisions: The present Imperial Ordinance will come into force as from the day of its promulgation. Persons who hold the position of headman of Chonaikai, Burakukai of federation thereof at the day of promulgation of this Imperial Ordinance may, in spite of the provisions of paragraph 1 above, stay in such position till the day of assumption of office by new headmen to be elected by the first election to be held in pursuance of the provision of the said paragraph.