Ito Hirobumi

Born in Hagi, Yamaguchi, Prince It? Hirobumi (?? ?? It? Hirobumi 16 October 1841?26 October 1909, also called Hirofumi/Hakubun and Shunsuke in his youth) was a Japanese politician and the country's first Prime Minister (and the 5th, 7th and 10th).

After the Meiji Restoration

After the Meiji Restoration, Ito served as a junior councillor in a number of different ministries. In 1873, Ito was made a full councillor and following the death of Okubo Toshimichi in 1878 he was home minister and dominated the government, by 1881 he forced Okuma Shigenobu to resign and gain the key role for himself. He headed a number of missions to study foreign governments. Based on the European ideas he established a cabinet and civil service in 1885, replacing the Dajokan as the decision-making state organisation, and became the first Prime Minister. The idea of constitutional governance was the strong influence he received as a member of Iwakura mission. He founded one of the earliest political parties of Japan, Rikkenseiyukai. In 1885 he negotiated the Convention of Tientsin with Li Hung-chang. He supervised the drafting of the Meiji Constitution of 1889. He remained head of the Privy council while Kuroda Kiyotaka and Yamagata Aritomo were Prime Ministers.

Related Topics:
Meiji Restoration - 1873 - Okubo Toshimichi - 1878 - 1881 - Okuma Shigenobu - 1885 - Dajokan - Iwakura mission - Rikkenseiyukai - Convention of Tientsin - Li Hung-chang - Meiji Constitution - 1889 - Kuroda Kiyotaka - Yamagata Aritomo

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As Prime Minister again (1892-96) he supported the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and negotiated the Treaty of Shimonoseki in March 1895 with his ailing foreign minister Mutsu Munemitsu. After the war he became the first leader of the Seiyukai party, opposing Yamagata Aritomo. Prime Minister twice more (1898-1899, 1900-1901) he tried to negotiate a settlement with Russia before being forced from office by more militaristic politicians. He remained a power in the government as the premiership alternated between Saionji Kimmochi and Katsura Taro.

Related Topics:
1892 - 96 - Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) - Treaty of Shimonoseki - 1895 - Mutsu Munemitsu - Seiyukai party - 1898 - 1899 - 1900 - 1901 - Militaristic - Saionji Kimmochi - Katsura Taro

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