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Katsura Tarō | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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桂 太郎 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Prime Minister of Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 21 December 1912 – 20 February 1913 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Taishō | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Saionji Kinmochi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Yamamoto Gonnohyōe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 14 July 1908 – 30 August 1911 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Meiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Saionji Kinmochi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Saionji Kinmochi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 2 June 1901 – 7 January 1906 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Meiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Saionji Kinmochi (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Saionji Kinmochi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 21 August 1912 – 21 December 1912 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Taishō | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Tokudaiji Sanetsune | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Prince Fushimi Sadanaru | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Governor-General of Taiwan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 2 June 1896 – 14 October 1896 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Meiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Kabayama Sukenori | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Nogi Maresuke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of theHouse of Peers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 21 April 1911 – 11 October 1913 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 21 September 1907 – 20 April 1911 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1848-01-04)4 January 1848 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 10 October 1913(1913-10-10) (aged 65) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cause of death | Stomach cancer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resting place | Shōin shrine, Tokyo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Rikken Dōshikai (1913) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | Independent (1896–1913) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profession | Soldier and politician | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Awards | SeeDecorations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  Empire of Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service |  Imperial Japanese Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1870–1901 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank |   General | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commands | IJA 3rd Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battles/wars | Boshin War First Sino-Japanese War | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PrinceKatsura Tarō (桂 太郎; 4 January 1848 – 10 October 1913) was a Japanese statesman and general who served asprime minister of Japan from 1901 to 1906, from 1908 to 1911, and from 1912 to 1913. He was agenrō, or senior statesman who helped dictate policy during theMeiji era, and is thesecond-longest serving Japanese prime minister afterShinzo Abe, serving for a combined total of 7 years and 330 days.
Born in theChoshu Domain to asamurai family, Katsura participated in theBoshin War that led to theMeiji Restoration in 1868. He spent several years studyingmilitary science in Germany, and became a protégé ofYamagata Aritomo. He distinguished himself in theFirst Sino-Japanese War, then served asgovernor-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 theRusso-Japanese War before he was forced to resign in 1906amid public outrage at the government's failure to secure anindemnity from Russia. He returned as premier in 1908, and showed authoritarian tendencies in the crackdown on theHigh Treason Incident of 1910, which saw the mass arrest of leftists and which was followed by the establishment of theSpecial Higher Police in 1911. AfterEmperor Meiji's death in 1912, Katsura became prime minister again, which triggered theTaisho Political Crisis. He resigned three months later after avote of no confidence.
Katsura was born on 4 January 1848 inHagi,Nagato Province (present-dayYamaguchi Prefecture) as the eldest son of horse guard Katsura Yoichiemon into asamurai family of theChōshū Domain. As a youth, Katsura joined the movement against theTokugawa shogunate and participated in theBoshin War[1] that led to theMeiji Restoration in 1868.
The newMeiji government considered that Katsura displayed great talent, and in 1870 sent him toGermany to studymilitary science. He served asmilitary 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 tomajor general. He served in several key positions within theImperial Japanese Army, and in 1886 was appointedVice-Minister of War.[2]
During theFirst Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) Katsura commanded theIJA 3rd Division under his mentor, Field MarshalYamagata Aritomo. During the war, his division made a memorable march in the depth of winter from the north-east shore of theYellow Sea toHaicheng, finally occupyingNiuchwang, and effecting a junction with theIJA 2nd Army which had moved up theLiaodong Peninsula.[2]
After the war, he was elevated with the title ofshishaku (viscount) under thekazoku peerage system.[2] He was appointed 2ndGovernor-General of Taiwan from 2 June 1896, to October 1896.
In successive cabinets from 1898 to 1901, he served asMinister of War.
Katsura Tarō served as the 11th, 13th and 15thprime minister of Japan. His position as the longest-serving prime minister of Japan (total length) was surpassed byShinzō Abe on 20 November 2019.
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 majorimperialist power in East Asia. In terms of foreign affairs, it was marked by theAnglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902 and victory over theRussian Empire in theRusso-Japanese War of 1904–1905. During his first premiership, theTaft–Katsura agreement, accepting Japanese hegemony overKorea, was reached with theUnited States. Katsura received the Grand Cross of theOrder of St Michael and St George from KingEdward VII of theUnited Kingdom and was elevated to the rank ofmarquess byEmperor Meiji.[2]
In terms of domestic policy, Katsura was a strictly conservative politician who attempted to distance himself from theImperial Diet and party politics. His political views mirrored that of former prime ministerYamagata Aritomo in that he viewed that his sole responsibility was to the Emperor. He vied for control of the government with theRikken Seiyūkai, the majority party of thelower house, headed by his archrival,MarquessSaionji Kinmochi.
In January 1906, Katsura resigned the premiership toSaionji Kinmochi over the unpopularTreaty of Portsmouth (1905), ending the war between Japan and Russia. However, his resignation was part of a "back door deal," brokered byHara Takashi to alternate power between Saionji and Hara.
On 1 April 1906, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the SupremeOrder of the Chrysanthemum.
Katsura returned as prime minister from 14 July 1908, to 30 August 1911. His second premiership was noteworthy for theJapan–Korea Annexation Treaty of 1910 tocolonize 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.[citation needed] He also faced growing public dissatisfaction over the persistence of thehanbatsu domainal based politics.
After his resignation, he became akōshaku (公爵 = prince),Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan and one of thegenrō.
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 theTaisho Political Crisis. His appointment was viewed as a plot by thegenrō to overthrow theMeiji Constitution. However, rather than compromising, Katsura created his own political party, theRikken Dōshikai (Constitutional Association of Allies) in an effort to establish his own support base after his third premiership.[citation needed]
However, faced with ano-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 byYamamoto Gonnohyōe.[3]
Katsura died ofstomach cancer eight months later on 10 October 1913, aged 65. His funeral was held at the temple ofZōjō-ji inShiba, Tokyo and his grave is at theShōin Jinja, inSetagaya.
From the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia
Russian Empire:
German Empire:
Duchy of Brunswick: Knight 1st Class of theOrder of Henry the Lion (1 July 1910)
France: Grand Officer of theLegion d'Honneur (16 April 1901)
United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of the Bath (GCB) (8 July 1905)[5]
Holy See: Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of Pius IX (5 June 1906)
Korean Empire: Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Golden Ruler (21 December 1907)
Qing dynasty:Order of the Double Dragon, Class I Grade II (21 December 1907; Class I Grade III: 18 December 1899)
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Katsura, Taro, Marquess".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 697.
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922)."Katsura, Taro".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 31 (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company. p. 676.
Quotations related toKatsura Tarō at Wikiquote
Media related toKatsura Tarō at Wikimedia Commons| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Japan 21 December 1912 – 20 February 1913 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal 21 August 1912 – 21 December 1912 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Foreign Minister (acting) 21 December 1912 – 29 January 1913 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Japan 14 July 1908 – 30 August 1911 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Finance Minister 14 July 1908 – 30 August 1911 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Education 14 December 1905 – 7 January 1906 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Home Minister 12 October 1903 – 20 February 1904 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Japan 2 June 1901 – 7 July 1906 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of War 12 January 1898 – 23 December 1900 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor General of Taiwan 2 June 1896 – 14 October 1896 | Succeeded by |
| Empire of Japan (1868–1947) |
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| Japan (1947–present) |
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