CountKatō Takaaki (加藤 高明, 3 January 1860 – 28 January 1926) was a Japanese politician, diplomat, and Prime Minister of Japan from 1924 until his death on 28 January 1926, during the period which historians have called "Taishō Democracy". He was also known as Katō Kōmei.
Katō, was born as Hattori Sokichi, the second son of a former samurai retainer of the Owari Tokugawa domain in Nagoya, Owari Province, in the town of Saya, Ama District in what is now part of the city of Aisai, Aichi Prefecture. He was adopted by Katō Bunhei at the age of 13, and attended Tokyo Imperial University, from which he graduated at the top of his class from the Law Department, specializing in English common law. After graduation, he worked as an employee of Mitsubishizaibatsu, and was sent to London for two years. On his return to Japan in 1885, he became an assistant manager at the Mitsubishi head office in Marunouchi, Tokyo. In 1886, he married Haruji, the eldest daughter of Iwasaki Yatarō, the president of Mitsubishi.
From 1894 to 1899, he served as envoy to the United Kingdom, and in 1900, during the 4th Itō administration, he became Foreign Minister; however, the Ito administration remained in office only a few months. During his period in the United Kingdom and in the Foreign Ministry, he helped lay the foundations for the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, which was concluded in 1902. In 1902 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet from Kōchi Prefecture.
Appointed again as Foreign Minister in the Saionji cabinet (1906), he resigned after a brief interval, being opposed to the nationalization of the private railways, which the cabinet approved. He then remained without office until 1908, when he accepted the post of ambassador in London. He received an honorary GCMG, and earned the reputation of being one of the strongest among the junior statesmen.[2] He resigned his post as ambassador in December 1912, and again served as Foreign Minister in the 3rd Katsura and 2nd Ōkuma administrations, but soon resigned. He created a Constitutionalist party, becoming its president in 1913, and joined the cabinet as Foreign Minister in April 1914.[3]
He was thus foreign minister at the outbreak of World War I, and in the words of Hew Strachan (The First World War, p. 72): "Of all the world's statesmen in 1914, Katō proved the most adroit at using war for the purposes of policy. Domestically he exploited it to assert the dominance of the Foreign Ministry and of the cabinet in the making of Japan's foreign policy. Internationally he took the opportunity to redefine Japan's relationship with China. In doing so he was not simply outflanking the extremists opposed to him; he was also honouring his own belief that Japan should be a great power like those of Europe."
Katō's decision that Japan should enter World War I greatly angered the genrō, who had not been consulted, and who therefore felt that their power and authority were being slighted. In addition, Katō created considerable controversy in January 1915, when he issued the Twenty-One Demands to China, which sparked a major international incident and considerable opposition domestically.
As Prime Minister
Katō Takaaki in suit.
In 1915, Katō was selected as a member of the House of Peers by Imperial command. He became president of the conservative Kenseikai political party in the following year, whose policies he greatly influenced with his opposition to the genrō, support of the constitution and support for extension of popular suffrage.
Katō was appointed Prime Minister of Japan from 1924 until his death in early 1926. His cabinet was nicknamed the "Goken Sanpa Naikaku" (Cabinet based on the three pro-Constitution factions), which, despite its coalition nature, was able to enact significant legislation. In 1925, Katō had the General Election Law enacted, which extended the vote to all male citizens over the age of 25. He also ratified the Peace Preservation Law, which suppressed leftist political organizations, and concluded the Soviet–Japanese Basic Convention. He also initiated universal military service. Katō strove to reduce government spending, but also suffered considerable personal criticism for his family links with Mitsubishi.
Death
Katō Takaaki died in office from pneumonia in 1926, aged 66.
Honours
From the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (28 December 1902)
Baron (24 August 1911)
Viscount (14 July 1916)
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers (14 July 1916)
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (28 January 1926; posthumous)
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kato, Taka-Akira". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 696.
^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Kato, Takaaki Komei, Viscount". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 31 (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company. p. 676.
References
Beasley, W.G. Japanese Imperialism 1894-1945. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-822168-1
katō, takaaki, this, japanese, name, surname, katō, count, 加藤, 高明, january, 1860, january, 1926, japanese, politician, diplomat, prime, minister, japan, from, 1924, until, death, january, 1926, during, period, which, historians, have, called, taishō, democracy. In this Japanese name the surname is Katō Count Katō Takaaki 加藤 高明 3 January 1860 28 January 1926 was a Japanese politician diplomat and Prime Minister of Japan from 1924 until his death on 28 January 1926 during the period which historians have called Taishō Democracy He was also known as Katō Kōmei CountKatō Takaaki加藤 高明Prime Minister of JapanIn office 11 June 1924 28 January 1926MonarchTaishōRegentHirohitoPreceded byKiyoura KeigoSucceeded byWakatsuki ReijirōPersonal detailsBorn 1860 01 03 3 January 1860Aisai Aichi Tokugawa shogunateDied28 January 1926 1926 01 28 aged 66 Tokyo Empire of JapanCause of deathPneumoniaPolitical partyKenseikaiSpouseKatō Haruji 1864 1942 Alma materTokyo Imperial UniversitySignature Contents 1 Early life 2 As cabinet minister and ambassador 3 As Prime Minister 4 Death 5 Honours 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksEarly life EditKatō was born as Hattori Sokichi the second son of a former samurai retainer of the Owari Tokugawa domain in Nagoya Owari Province in the town of Saya Ama District in what is now part of the city of Aisai Aichi Prefecture He was adopted by Katō Bunhei at the age of 13 and attended Tokyo Imperial University from which he graduated at the top of his class from the Law Department specializing in English common law After graduation he worked as an employee of Mitsubishi zaibatsu and was sent to London for two years On his return to Japan in 1885 he became an assistant manager at the Mitsubishi head office in Marunouchi Tokyo In 1886 he married Haruji the eldest daughter of Iwasaki Yatarō the president of Mitsubishi As cabinet minister and ambassador Edit Katō Takaaki In 1887 Katō became private secretary to Ōkuma Shigenobu who was then Minister of Foreign Affairs and worked with Ōkuma on the revision of the unequal treaties Subsequently he served as director of the Banking Bureau in the Finance Ministry 1 From 1894 to 1899 he served as envoy to the United Kingdom and in 1900 during the 4th Itō administration he became Foreign Minister however the Ito administration remained in office only a few months During his period in the United Kingdom and in the Foreign Ministry he helped lay the foundations for the Anglo Japanese Alliance which was concluded in 1902 In 1902 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet from Kōchi Prefecture Appointed again as Foreign Minister in the Saionji cabinet 1906 he resigned after a brief interval being opposed to the nationalization of the private railways which the cabinet approved He then remained without office until 1908 when he accepted the post of ambassador in London He received an honorary GCMG and earned the reputation of being one of the strongest among the junior statesmen 2 He resigned his post as ambassador in December 1912 and again served as Foreign Minister in the 3rd Katsura and 2nd Ōkuma administrations but soon resigned He created a Constitutionalist party becoming its president in 1913 and joined the cabinet as Foreign Minister in April 1914 3 He was thus foreign minister at the outbreak of World War I and in the words of Hew Strachan The First World War p 72 Of all the world s statesmen in 1914 Katō proved the most adroit at using war for the purposes of policy Domestically he exploited it to assert the dominance of the Foreign Ministry and of the cabinet in the making of Japan s foreign policy Internationally he took the opportunity to redefine Japan s relationship with China In doing so he was not simply outflanking the extremists opposed to him he was also honouring his own belief that Japan should be a great power like those of Europe Katō s decision that Japan should enter World War I greatly angered the genrō who had not been consulted and who therefore felt that their power and authority were being slighted In addition Katō created considerable controversy in January 1915 when he issued the Twenty One Demands to China which sparked a major international incident and considerable opposition domestically As Prime Minister Edit Katō Takaaki in suit In 1915 Katō was selected as a member of the House of Peers by Imperial command He became president of the conservative Kenseikai political party in the following year whose policies he greatly influenced with his opposition to the genrō support of the constitution and support for extension of popular suffrage Katō was appointed Prime Minister of Japan from 1924 until his death in early 1926 His cabinet was nicknamed the Goken Sanpa Naikaku Cabinet based on the three pro Constitution factions which despite its coalition nature was able to enact significant legislation In 1925 Katō had the General Election Law enacted which extended the vote to all male citizens over the age of 25 He also ratified the Peace Preservation Law which suppressed leftist political organizations and concluded the Soviet Japanese Basic Convention He also initiated universal military service Katō strove to reduce government spending but also suffered considerable personal criticism for his family links with Mitsubishi Death EditKatō Takaaki died in office from pneumonia in 1926 aged 66 Honours EditFrom the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure 28 December 1902 Baron 24 August 1911 Viscount 14 July 1916 Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers 14 July 1916 Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum 28 January 1926 posthumous Count 28 January 1926 posthumous See also EditHistory of JapanNotes EditThis article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Chisholm 1911 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Kato Taka Akira Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 15 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 696 Chisholm Hugh ed 1922 Kato Takaaki Komei Viscount Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 31 12th ed London amp New York The Encyclopaedia Britannica Company p 676 References EditBeasley W G Japanese Imperialism 1894 1945 Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 822168 1 Buruma Ian Inventing Japan 1853 1964 Modern Library 2004 ISBN 0 8129 7286 4 Toyoda Jo Kato Takaaki to Taisho demokurashi Meiji Taisho no saisho Kodansha ISBN 4 06 180698 X Japanese External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takaaki Katō Newspaper clippings about Katō Takaaki in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBWPolitical officesPreceded byAoki Shuzō Minister of Foreign Affairs1900 1901 Succeeded bySone ArasukePreceded byKomura Jutarō Minister of Foreign Affairs1906 Succeeded bySaionji KinmochiPreceded byKatsura Tarō Minister of Foreign Affairs1913 Succeeded byMakino NobuakiPreceded byMakino Nobuaki Minister of Foreign Affairs1914 1915 Succeeded byŌkuma ShigenobuPreceded byKiyoura Keigo Prime Minister of Japan1924 1926 Succeeded byWakatsuki Reijirō Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Katō Takaaki amp oldid 1085228458, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
