Katsura Tarō

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Template:Short description Template:Family name hatnote Template:More footnotes Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Prince Script error: No such module "Nihongo". was a Japanese statesman and general who served as prime minister of Japan from 1901 to 1906, from 1908 to 1911, and from 1912 to 1913. He was a genrō, or senior statesman who helped dictate policy during the Meiji era, and is the second-longest serving Japanese prime minister after Shinzo Abe, serving for a combined total of 7 years and 330 days.

Born in the Choshu Domain to a samurai family, Katsura participated in the Boshin War that led to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He spent several years studying military science in Germany, and became a protégé of Yamagata Aritomo. He distinguished himself in the First Sino-Japanese War, then served as governor-general of Taiwan and later as minister of war from 1898 to 1901, when he was appointed prime minister. Katsura's relatively stable tenure saw Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War before he was forced to resign in 1906 amid public outrage at the government's failure to secure an indemnity from Russia. He returned as premier in 1908, and showed authoritarian tendencies in the crackdown on the High Treason Incident of 1910, which saw the mass arrest of leftists and which was followed by the establishment of the Special Higher Police in 1911. After Emperor Meiji's death in 1912, Katsura became prime minister again, which triggered the Taisho Political Crisis. He resigned three months later after a vote of no confidence.

Early life

Katsura was born on 4 January 1848 in Hagi, Nagato Province (present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture) as the eldest son of horse guard Katsura Yoichiemon into a samurai family of the Chōshū Domain. As a youth, Katsura joined the movement against the Tokugawa shogunate and participated in the Boshin War[1] that led to the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

Army career

The new Meiji government considered that Katsura displayed great talent, and in 1870 sent him to Germany to study military science. He served as military attaché at the Japanese embassy in Germany from 1875 to 1878 and again from 1884 to 1885. On his return to Japan, he was promoted to major general. He served in several key positions within the Imperial Japanese Army, and in 1886 was appointed Vice-Minister of War.[2]

During the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) Katsura commanded the IJA 3rd Division under his mentor, Field Marshal Yamagata Aritomo. During the war, his division made a memorable march in the depth of winter from the north-east shore of the Yellow Sea to Haicheng, finally occupying Niuchwang, and effecting a junction with the IJA 2nd Army which had moved up the Liaodong Peninsula.[2]

Political career

Template:Infobox premiership After the war, he was elevated with the title of shishaku (viscount) under the kazoku peerage system.[2] He was appointed 2nd Governor-General of Taiwan from 2 June 1896, to October 1896.

In successive cabinets from 1898 to 1901, he served as Minister of War.

Katsura Tarō served as the 11th, 13th and 15th prime minister of Japan. His position as the longest-serving prime minister of Japan (total length) was surpassed by Shinzō Abe on 20 November 2019.

First premiership (1901–1906)

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Katsura became prime minister for the first time on 2 June 1901, and he retained the office for four and a half years to 7 January 1906, which was then a record in Japan.[2] Japan emerged as a major imperialist power in East Asia. In terms of foreign affairs, it was marked by the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902 and victory over the Russian Empire in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905. During his first premiership, the Taft–Katsura agreement, accepting Japanese hegemony over Korea, was reached with the United States. Katsura received the Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George from King Edward VII of the United Kingdom and was elevated to the rank of marquess by Emperor Meiji.[2]

In terms of domestic policy, Katsura was a strictly conservative politician who attempted to distance himself from the Imperial Diet and party politics. His political views mirrored that of former prime minister Yamagata Aritomo in that he viewed that his sole responsibility was to the Emperor. He vied for control of the government with the Rikken Seiyūkai, the majority party of the lower house, headed by his archrival, Marquess Saionji Kinmochi.

In January 1906, Katsura resigned the premiership to Saionji Kinmochi over the unpopular Treaty of Portsmouth (1905), ending the war between Japan and Russia. However, his resignation was part of a "back door deal," brokered by Hara Takashi to alternate power between Saionji and Hara.

On 1 April 1906, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.

Second premiership (1908–1911)

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File:Prince Katsura Tarō.jpg
Katsura Tarō

Katsura returned as prime minister from 14 July 1908, to 30 August 1911. His second premiership was noteworthy for the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty of 1910 to colonize Korea. He also promulgated the Factory Act in 1911, the first act for the purpose of labor protection in Japan.

Katsura was increasingly unpopular during his second premiership over public perception that he was using his office to further both his personal fortune and the interests of the military (gunbatsu) over the welfare of the people. Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He also faced growing public dissatisfaction over the persistence of the hanbatsu domainal based politics.

After his resignation, he became a kōshaku (公爵 = prince), Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan and one of the genrō.

Third premiership (1912–1913)

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Katsura's brief reappointment as prime minister third time from 21 December 1912, to 20 February 1913, sparked widespread riots in what became known as the Taisho Political Crisis. His appointment was viewed as a plot by the genrō to overthrow the Meiji Constitution. However, rather than compromising, Katsura created his own political party, the Rikken Dōshikai (Constitutional Association of Allies) in an effort to establish his own support base after his third premiership. Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

However, faced with a no-confidence motion, the first successful one in Japanese history, and the loss of the support of his backers, he was forced to resign in February 1913. He was succeeded by Yamamoto Gonnohyōe.[3]

Death

File:Taro Katsura funeral at Zojo-ji 1913.jpg
The funeral carriage leaving Katsura's residence en route to Zōjō-ji in October 1913
File:Grave of Katsura Tarō.jpg
Katsura's grave in Tokyo

Katsura died of stomach cancer eight months later on 10 October 1913, aged 65. His funeral was held at the temple of Zōjō-ji in Shiba, Tokyo and his grave is at the Shōin Jinja, in Setagaya.

Honors

From the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

File:KatsuraTaroBronzeStatue.jpg
A bronze statue of Katsura Tarō on the top of the stairs of Takushoku University in Hachiōji, Tokyo
File:Sasago tunnel memorial.jpg
A memorial stone that commemorates the opening of Sasago railway tunnel. The epigraph was written by Taro Katsura.

Titles

  • Viscount (20 August 1895)
  • Count (27 February 1902)[4]
  • Marquess (21 September 1907)
  • Prince (21 April 1911)
  • Genrō (30 August 1911)

Decorations

Japanese

Foreign

References

Template:Reflist

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External links

Template:S-endTemplate:Prime Ministers of JapanTemplate:Japanese Governors of TaiwanTemplate:Japanese foreign ministersTemplate:Japanese finance ministersTemplate:Authority control
Political offices
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21 December 1912Template:Snd20 February 1913 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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21 August 1912Template:Snd21 December 1912 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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21 December 1912Template:Snd29 January 1913 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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14 July 1908Template:Snd30 August 1911 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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14 July 1908Template:Snd30 August 1911 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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14 December 1905Template:Snd7 January 1906 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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12 October 1903Template:Snd20 February 1904 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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2 June 1901Template:Snd7 July 1906 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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12 January 1898Template:Snd23 December 1900 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Governor General of Taiwan
2 June 1896Template:Snd14 October 1896 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c d e File:Wikisource-logo.svg One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
  3. ↑ Template:Cite EB1922
  4. ↑ Template:Cite newspaper The Times
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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