 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(August 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Matsukata Masayoshi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
松方 正義 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister of Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 18 September 1896 – 12 January 1898 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Meiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Kuroda Kiyotaka (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Itō Hirobumi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 6 May 1891 – 8 August 1892 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Meiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Yamagata Aritomo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Itō Hirobumi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 2 May 1917 – 18 September 1922 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Taishō | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Ōyama Iwao | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Hirata Tosuke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of theHouse of Peers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 21 September 1907 – 3 July 1924 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 10 July 1890 – 9 July 1897 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Governor ofHita Prefecture | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1868–1870 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Meiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Office established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Nomura Morihide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1835-02-25)25 February 1835 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2 July 1924(1924-07-02) (aged 89) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 24, includingKōjirō | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Haru M. Reischauer (granddaughter) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Japanese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kanji | 松方 正義 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hiragana | まつかた まさよし | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PrinceMatsukata Masayoshi (松方 正義; 25 February 1835 – 2 July 1924) was a Japanese politician who served asPrime Minister of Japan from 1891 to 1892, and from 1896 to 1898. Born in theSatsuma Domain to asamurai family, Matsukata served as finance minister for 15 of the 20 years between 1881 and 1901, led the creation of theBank of Japan in 1882, and had significant influence in the financial and economic articles of theMeiji Constitution of 1889. He became agenrō, or senior statesman who dictated policy in the laterMeiji era, and was given the title of prince in 1922.
Matsukata Masayoshi was born on 25 February 1835, in Arata,Kagoshima,Satsuma Province (present-day Shimoarata,Kagoshima,Kagoshima Prefecture),[1] the fourth son of Matsukata Masayasu and his wife Kesaku.[2] His family was of thesamurai warrior nobility class. Both his parents died when he was 13 years old.[2]
At the age of 13, he entered theZoshikan, the Satsuma domain'sConfucian academy, where he studied the teachings ofWang Yangming, which stressed loyalty to the Emperor. He started his career as a bureaucrat of theSatsuma Domain. In 1866, he was sent toNagasaki to study western science, mathematics and surveying. Matsukata was highly regarded byŌkubo Toshimichi andSaigō Takamori, who used him as their liaison betweenKyoto and the domain government in Kagoshima.
Knowing that war was coming between Satsuma and the Tokugawa, Matsukata purchased a ship available in Nagasaki for use in the coming conflict. This ship was then given the nameKasuga. The leaders of Satsuma felt the ship was best used as cargo vessel and so Matsukata resigned his position as captain of the ship that he had purchased. Just a few months later the Kasuga did become a warship and it fought in theBoshin War against the Tokugawa ships.
At the time of theMeiji Restoration, he helped maintain order in Nagasaki after the collapse of theTokugawa bakufu. In 1868, Matsukata was appointed governor of Hita Prefecture (part of present-dayŌita Prefecture) by his friend Okubo who was the powerful minister of the interior for the newMeiji government.
As governor Matsukata instituted a number of reforms including road building, starting the port ofBeppu, and building a successful orphanage. His ability as an administrator was noted in Tokyo and after two years he was summoned to the capital.
Matsukata moved toTokyo in 1871 and began to work on drafting laws for the Land Tax Reform of 1873–1881.[3]
Under the new system:
The new tax system was radically different from the traditional tax gathering system, which required taxes to be paid withrice varied according to location and the amount of rice produced. The new system took some years to be accepted by the Japanese people.
Matsukata becameLord Home Minister in 1880. In the following year, when Ōkuma Shigenobu was expelled in a political upheaval, he becameLord Finance Minister. The Japanese economy was in a crisis situation due to rampantinflation. Matsukata introduced a policy of fiscal restraint that resulted in what has come to be called the "Matsukata Deflation". The economy was eventually stabilized, but the resulting crash in commodity prices caused many smaller landholders to lose their fields to money-lending neighbors. Matsukata also established theBank of Japan in 1882, replacing the prior system ofnational banks.[4] WhenItō Hirobumi was appointed the first modern-dayPrime Minister of Japan in 1885, he named Matsukata to be the first Finance Minister in his cabinet.
Matsukata also sought to protect Japanese industry from foreign competition, but was restricted by theunequal treaties. The unavailability of protectionist devices probably benefited Japan in the long run, as it enabled Japan to develop its export industries. The national government also tried to create government industries to produce particular products or services. Lack of funds forced the government to turn these industries over to private businesses which in return for special privileges agreed to pursue the government's goals. This arrangement led to the rise of thezaibatsu system.
Matsukata served as finance minister in seven of the first nine cabinets, and led the Finance Ministry for 15 of the 20-year period from 1881 to 1901. He is also believed to have had significant influence on drafting Articles 62–72 of theMeiji Constitution of 1890.
 Matsukata, unknown date | |
| Premiership of Matsukata Masayoshi | |
| Monarch | Emperor Meiji |
|---|---|
| Party | Independent (Meiji oligarchy) |
| Seat | Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei |
First term 6 May 1891 – 8 August 1892 | |
| Cabinet | First Matsukata Cabinet |
| Election | 1892 |
Second term 18 September 1896 – 12 January 1898 | |
| Cabinet | Second Matsukata Cabinet |
← Kuroda Kiyotaka (acting) | |
 Emblem of the Government of Japan | |
Matsukata followedYamagata Aritomo as Prime Minister from 6 May 1891, to 8 August 1892, and followed Ito Hirobumi as Prime Minister from 18 September 1896, to 12 January 1898, during which times he concurrently also held office as finance minister.
One issue of his term in office was theBlack Ocean Society, which operated with the support of certain powerful figures in the government and in return was powerful enough to demand concessions from the government. They demanded and received promises of a strong foreign policy from the 1892 Matsukata Cabinet.
Matsukata successively held offices as president of the JapaneseRed Cross Society,privy councillor,gijokan, member of theHouse of Peers, andLord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan. Later, he was given the title of prince andgenrō.
In 1902 he visited US and Europe. He arrived inLondon fromNew York in late April.[5] During his stay, he was received in audience by KingEdward VII atBuckingham Palace on 2 May 1902,[6] and received an honorary degree from theUniversity of Oxford the following month.[7] In July he visitedVienna[8] andSt Petersburg[9] before returning to Japan.
Matsukata had many children (at least 13 sons and 11 daughters) and grandchildren. It is said thatEmperor Meiji asked him how many children he had; but Masayoshi was unable to give an exact answer.[10]
Matsukata's son,Kōjirō Matsukata (1865–1950) led a successful business career at the head of theKawasaki Heavy Industries andK Line groups, while investing his significant personal fortune in the acquisition of several thousand examples of Western painting, sculpture and decorative arts. His intention was that the collection should serve as the nucleus of a national museum of western art. Although not achieved during his lifetime, the 1959 creation of theNational Museum of Western Art inTokyo was a vindication of this passion for art and a demonstration of the foresight which benefits his countrymen and others.[11]
Another son, Shokuma Matsukata, married Miyo Arai (1891-1984), who, as Miyo A. Matsukata, was instrumental in introducing the Christian Science religion to Japan, and who became one of the first Japanese to engage in the public practice of Christian Science healing.[12]
His granddaughter, journalistHaru Matsukata Reischauer, married the American scholar of Japanese history, academic, statesman andUnited States Ambassador to Japan,Edwin Oldfather Reischauer.[13]
Matsukata was named an Honorary Knight Grand Cross ofOrder of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the November1902 Birthday Honours list published to commemorate King Edward VII′s birthday.[14][15]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Minister of Home Affairs 1885–1892 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Japan 1891–1892 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Home Affairs 1892 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Finance 1896 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Japan 1896–1898 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Finance 1896–1898 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Finance 1898–1900 | Succeeded by |
| Empire of Japan (1868–1947) |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan (1947–present) |
| ||||||
