CountMakino Nobuaki, also Makino Shinken (牧野 伸顕, November 24, 1861 – January 25, 1949) was a Japanese politician and imperial court official. As Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan, Makino served as Emperor Hirohito’s chief counselor on the monarch’s position in Japanese society and policymaking. In this capacity, he significantly contributed to the militarization of Japanese society by organizing support for ultranationalist groups[1] and swaying Hirohito to sanction the Imperial Army’s unauthorized aggression in China. Even after his retirement in 1935, he remained a close advisor to the throne through the end of World War II in 1945.[2]
Upon beginning his career as a diplomat, Makino was assigned to the Japanese Embassy in London. There, he made the acquaintance of Itō Hirobumi. Following his service abroad, he served as governor of Fukui Prefecture (1891–1892) and Ibaraki Prefecture (1892–1893). He resumed his career in diplomacy as an Ambassador to Italy (1897–1899) and later Ambassador to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Switzerland.
Japan's delegation to the 1919 Paris Peace Conference consisting of former Foreign Minister Baron Makino (seated on the left), former Prime Minister Marquis Saionji (seated, center), and Japanese ambassador to Italy Ijūin Hikokichi (standing, left), among others.
In March 1906, Makino was appointed Minister of Education under Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi. While serving in the 1st Saionji Cabinet, he was elevated in rank to danshaku (baron) under the kazoku peerage system.[4] When Saionji began his second term as Prime Minister on 30 August 1911, Makino again joined his Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. He was also appointed to serve on the Privy Council. Over the course of his political career, he aligned his policies closely with Itō Hirobumi and later, with Saionji, and was considered one of the early leaders of the Liberalism movement in Japan.[5]
After victory in World War I, Makino was appointed to be one of Japan's ambassador plenipotentiaries to the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, headed by the elder statesman, Marquis Saionji. At the conference, he and other members of the delegation put forth a racial equality proposal that did not pass.
On September 20, 1920, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers. In February 1921, he became Imperial Household Minister and elevated in rank to shishaku (viscount). Behind the scenes, he strove to improve Anglo-Japanese and Japanese-American relations, and he shared Saionji Kinmochi's efforts to shield the Emperor from direct involvement in political affairs.
In 1925, he was appointed Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan. In his efforts to preserve the monarchy’s exalted status, Makino increasingly positioned himself alongside Japan’s ultranationalist movement. In 1928, he oversaw the organization of nationwide enthronement ceremonies that energized the cult of personality surrounding Emperor Hirohito. He also authorized royal support for radical right wing groups and counseled Hirohito to legitimize the Army’s illegal invasion of China. In this manner, he played a central role in fueling militarism within Japan in the 1930s.
In 1935, he relinquished his position as Lord Keeper and was elevated in the title to hakushaku (count). Although he formally retired his positions in 1935, his relations with Hirohito remained good, and he still had much power and influence behind the scenes. This made him a target for radicals in the Japanese military. He only narrowly escaped assassination at his villa in Yugawara during the February 26 Incident in 1936. He continued to be an advisor and exert a moderating influence on the Emperor until the start of World War II.[6]
Later life and death
Grave of Makino, at the Aoyama Cemetery.
Makino was also the first president of the Nihon Ki-in Go Society, and a fervent player of the game of go.
After the war, his reputation as an "old liberalist" gave him high credibility, and the politician Ichirō Hatoyama attempted to recruit him to the Liberal Party as its chairman. However, Makino declined for reasons of health and age. He died in 1949, and his grave is at the Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo.
makino, nobuaki, count, also, makino, shinken, 牧野, 伸顕, november, 1861, january, 1949, japanese, politician, imperial, court, official, lord, keeper, privy, seal, japan, makino, served, emperor, hirohito, chief, counselor, monarch, position, japanese, society, . Count Makino Nobuaki also Makino Shinken 牧野 伸顕 November 24 1861 January 25 1949 was a Japanese politician and imperial court official As Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan Makino served as Emperor Hirohito s chief counselor on the monarch s position in Japanese society and policymaking In this capacity he significantly contributed to the militarization of Japanese society by organizing support for ultranationalist groups 1 and swaying Hirohito to sanction the Imperial Army s unauthorized aggression in China Even after his retirement in 1935 he remained a close advisor to the throne through the end of World War II in 1945 2 CountMakino Nobuaki牧野 伸顕Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of JapanIn office 30 March 1925 26 February 1935MonarchsTaisho ShōwaPreceded byHamao ArataSucceeded bySaitō MakotoForeign Minister of the Japanese EmpireIn office February 1913 April 1914MonarchTaishōPreceded byKatō TakaakiSucceeded byKatō TakaakiPersonal detailsBorn 1861 11 24 November 24 1861Kagoshima Prefecture JapanDiedJanuary 25 1949 1949 01 25 aged 87 Tokyo JapanParent s Ōkubo ToshimichiHayasaki MasakoOccupationPolitician cabinet minister diplomatIn this Japanese name the surname is Makino Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Later life and death 4 Personal life 5 Honours 6 Notes 7 Resources 8 External linksEarly life and education EditBorn to a samurai family in Kagoshima Satsuma Domain present day Kagoshima Prefecture Makino was the second son of Ōkubo Toshimichi but adopted into the Makino family at a very early age In 1871 at age 11 he accompanied Ōkubo on the Iwakura Mission to the United States as a student and briefly attended school in Philadelphia After he returned to Japan he attended Tokyo Imperial University but left without graduating 3 Career Edit Makino Nobuaki in 1906 Upon beginning his career as a diplomat Makino was assigned to the Japanese Embassy in London There he made the acquaintance of Itō Hirobumi Following his service abroad he served as governor of Fukui Prefecture 1891 1892 and Ibaraki Prefecture 1892 1893 He resumed his career in diplomacy as an Ambassador to Italy 1897 1899 and later Ambassador to the Austro Hungarian Empire and Switzerland Japan s delegation to the 1919 Paris Peace Conference consisting of former Foreign Minister Baron Makino seated on the left former Prime Minister Marquis Saionji seated center and Japanese ambassador to Italy Ijuin Hikokichi standing left among others In March 1906 Makino was appointed Minister of Education under Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi While serving in the 1st Saionji Cabinet he was elevated in rank to danshaku baron under the kazoku peerage system 4 When Saionji began his second term as Prime Minister on 30 August 1911 Makino again joined his Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce He was also appointed to serve on the Privy Council Over the course of his political career he aligned his policies closely with Itō Hirobumi and later with Saionji and was considered one of the early leaders of the Liberalism movement in Japan 5 After victory in World War I Makino was appointed to be one of Japan s ambassador plenipotentiaries to the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 headed by the elder statesman Marquis Saionji At the conference he and other members of the delegation put forth a racial equality proposal that did not pass On September 20 1920 he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers In February 1921 he became Imperial Household Minister and elevated in rank to shishaku viscount Behind the scenes he strove to improve Anglo Japanese and Japanese American relations and he shared Saionji Kinmochi s efforts to shield the Emperor from direct involvement in political affairs In 1925 he was appointed Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan In his efforts to preserve the monarchy s exalted status Makino increasingly positioned himself alongside Japan s ultranationalist movement In 1928 he oversaw the organization of nationwide enthronement ceremonies that energized the cult of personality surrounding Emperor Hirohito He also authorized royal support for radical right wing groups and counseled Hirohito to legitimize the Army s illegal invasion of China In this manner he played a central role in fueling militarism within Japan in the 1930s On May 15 1932 Makino s residence got attacked by ultra nationalist League of Blood but Nobuaki didn t get hurt It was part of the May 15 Incident In 1935 he relinquished his position as Lord Keeper and was elevated in the title to hakushaku count Although he formally retired his positions in 1935 his relations with Hirohito remained good and he still had much power and influence behind the scenes This made him a target for radicals in the Japanese military He only narrowly escaped assassination at his villa in Yugawara during the February 26 Incident in 1936 He continued to be an advisor and exert a moderating influence on the Emperor until the start of World War II 6 Later life and death Edit Grave of Makino at the Aoyama Cemetery Makino was also the first president of the Nihon Ki in Go Society and a fervent player of the game of go After the war his reputation as an old liberalist gave him high credibility and the politician Ichirō Hatoyama attempted to recruit him to the Liberal Party as its chairman However Makino declined for reasons of health and age He died in 1949 and his grave is at the Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo Personal life EditNoted post war Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida was Makino s son in law One of his grandchildren Ken ichi Yoshida was a literary scholar The former Prime Minister Tarō Asō is Makino s great grandson His great granddaughter Nobuko Asō married Prince Tomohito of Mikasa a first cousin of Emperor Akihito In addition Ijuin Hikokichi the former minister of foreign affairs was the brother in law of Makino 7 Honours Edit1925 Grand Cordon Order of Leopold 8 1930 Grand Cross of the Order of the White LionNotes Edit Bix Herbert P 2001 Hirohito and the making of modern Japan New York Perennial pp 164 ISBN 0 06 093130 2 Peter Wetzler Hirohito s First Adviser Count Makino Nobuaki in Hirohito and War University of Hawaii Press 1998 pp 139 178 Wetzler 1998 牧野伸顕関係文書 書翰の部 Archived 2010 03 24 at the Wayback Machine Wetzler 1998 John Van Sant Peter Mauch and Yoneyuki Sugita The A to Z of United States Japan Relations 2010 p 234 Hui Min Lo 1 June 1978 The Correspondence of G E Morrison 1912 1920 CUP Archive p 873 ISBN 978 0 521 21561 9 Royal Decree of 1925 Memorial du centenaire de l Ordre de Leopold 1832 1932 Bruxelles J Rozez 1933 Resources EditAgawa Hiroyuki The Reluctant Admiral Yamamoto and the Imperial Navy Kodansha International 2000 ISBN 4 7700 2539 4 Beasley W G Japanese Imperialism 1894 1945 Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 822168 1 Wetzler Peter Hirohito s First Adviser Count Makino Nobuaki in Hirohito and War University of Hawaii Press 1998 pp 139 178 Makino Nobuaki Makino Nobuaki nikki Chuō Kōronsha 1990 ISBN 4 12 001977 2 Japanese External links Edit Media related to Makino Nobuaki at Wikimedia CommonsPolitical officesPreceded bySaionji Kinmochi Minister of EducationMarch 1906 July 1908 Succeeded byKomatsubara EitarōPreceded byŌura Kanetake Minister of Agriculture amp CommerceAugust 1911 December 1912 Succeeded byNakashōji RenPreceded byHaseba Sumitaka Minister of Education interim November December 1912 Succeeded byShibata KamonPreceded byKatō Takaaki Minister of Foreign AffairsFebruary 1913 April 1914 Succeeded byKatō TakaakiPreceded byNakamura Yujirō Imperial Household MinisterFebruary 1921 March 1925 Succeeded byIchiki KitokurōPreceded byHamao Arata Lord Keeper of the Privy SealMarch 1925 February 1935 Succeeded bySaitō Makoto Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Makino Nobuaki amp oldid 1121552864, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
