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Taro Katsura (1848 - 1913)
Taro Katsura (1848 - 1913) was an [[Imperial Japanese Army]] officer and government official, who served as [[Prime Minister of Japan]] and [[genro]]/


Military officer and statesman. Born in Yamaguchi, the son of a samurai of the Hagi Clan. Served in the Boshin War. In 1870 he went to Germany to study. In 1875 he was appointed military attaché to the legation in Germany and went back to Europe, where he was engaged in the research and study of German military administration. After he returned to Japan in 1878, he tackled reforms of the military system and the army officer system under Aritomo Yamagata. In 1886 he became vice war minister. During the Sino-Japanese War, he served as chief of the Third Division. After serving as the second governor-general of Taiwan, and chief of the Tokyo Defense Force, he became war minister in the third Ito cabinet, and remained in that position in the first Okuma, second Yamagata and fourth Ito cabinets. Later, he served as prime minister alternately with Kinmochi Saionji  (the so-called "Kei-En Age"), and took the initiative on such matters as the conclusion of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the Russo-Japanese War, and Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula. After serving as Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal as a genro (elder statesman), he became prime minister again but resigned because of the movement to protect constitutional governmen
A specialist in German military doctrine, he studied in Europe, and returning in 1878, instituted forms for [[Aritomo Yamagata]].
 
In 1886 he became vice war minister. During the [[First Sino-Japanese War]], he commanded  the 3rd Division.  
 
After serving as the second governor-general of Taiwan, and chief of the Tokyo Defense Force, he became war minister in the third [[Hirobumi Ito | Ito cabinet]], the first [[Shigenobu Okuma|Obuma]], second [[Arimoto Yamagata|Yamagata]] and fourth Ito cabinets.  
 
He became prime minister in an alternation with [[Kinmochi Saionji]] (the so-called "Kei-En Age").  He led Japanese initiative on Pacific policy matters such as hthe conclusion of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the Russo-Japanese War, and Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula. One of his governments fell after public indignation of the Russo-Japanese treaty ratified on 28 August 1905; Saonji, known as an opponent of the war, took over.
 
After serving as Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal as a genro (elder statesman), he became prime minister again but resigned because of the movement to protect constitutional government.<ref>{{citation
| publisher = National Diet Library
| title = Katsura, Taro
| url = http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/52.html?c=2}}</ref>
 
Emperor [[Taisho]] came to the throne in July 1912, believing Japan had to become more of a force in the world.aisho and his key advisers asked Katsura to carry out his plans. The main plank of the program was "perfection of national defense", or a military buildup that would permit trans-Korean empire building. The Constitutionalists under Saopmji opposed it on financial grounds. On December 12, however, Saionji's War Minister resigned, causing the fall of his cabinet. On 21 December, Taisho simply named Katsura as the new prime minister; Saionji resigned as head of the consitutionalists. Riots broke out all over Japan, and Katsura resigned three days later.
 
Saionji helped the Throne save face by making Admiral [[Gombee Yamamoto]] the new prime minister, and cut naval spending. Yamamoto was replaced over financial improprieties, by the diplomat, [[Takaaki Kato]].<ref>{{citation
| title= Japan's Imperial Conspiracy
| author = David Bergamini
| date = 1971 | publisher = Morrow}}, pp. 292-295</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}}

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Taro Katsura (1848 - 1913) was an Imperial Japanese Army officer and government official, who served as Prime Minister of Japan and genro/

A specialist in German military doctrine, he studied in Europe, and returning in 1878, instituted forms for Aritomo Yamagata.

In 1886 he became vice war minister. During the First Sino-Japanese War, he commanded the 3rd Division.

After serving as the second governor-general of Taiwan, and chief of the Tokyo Defense Force, he became war minister in the third Ito cabinet, the first Obuma, second Yamagata and fourth Ito cabinets.

He became prime minister in an alternation with Kinmochi Saionji (the so-called "Kei-En Age"). He led Japanese initiative on Pacific policy matters such as hthe conclusion of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the Russo-Japanese War, and Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula. One of his governments fell after public indignation of the Russo-Japanese treaty ratified on 28 August 1905; Saonji, known as an opponent of the war, took over.

After serving as Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal as a genro (elder statesman), he became prime minister again but resigned because of the movement to protect constitutional government.[1]

Emperor Taisho came to the throne in July 1912, believing Japan had to become more of a force in the world.aisho and his key advisers asked Katsura to carry out his plans. The main plank of the program was "perfection of national defense", or a military buildup that would permit trans-Korean empire building. The Constitutionalists under Saopmji opposed it on financial grounds. On December 12, however, Saionji's War Minister resigned, causing the fall of his cabinet. On 21 December, Taisho simply named Katsura as the new prime minister; Saionji resigned as head of the consitutionalists. Riots broke out all over Japan, and Katsura resigned three days later.

Saionji helped the Throne save face by making Admiral Gombee Yamamoto the new prime minister, and cut naval spending. Yamamoto was replaced over financial improprieties, by the diplomat, Takaaki Kato.[2]

References

  1. Katsura, Taro, National Diet Library
  2. David Bergamini (1971), Japan's Imperial Conspiracy, Morrow, pp. 292-295

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