1868-1912 Meiji Period
- London-educated samurai
- de-facto leader of Meiji oligarchy
- had huge influence as genro even after his term expired
- staunchly monarchist; opposed formation of political parties
- preferred instead a large, all-powerful bureaucracy that answered solely to the Emperor
- presided over powerful foreign policy
- strengthened diplomatic ties with the West (Germany, U.S., U.K.)
- oversaw First Sino-Japanese War, negotiated excessively favorable terms to Japan from the Qing Dynasty
- incl. annexation of Taiwan, release of Korea from tribute system
- avoided conflict with Russia through Man-Kan Kokan – proposed surrender of Manchuria in exchange for recognition of Japanese hegemony in Korea
- Russian authorities were unreceptive
- incumbent PM Katsura Taro abandoned this pursuit → Russo-Japanese War
- 1885: first Prime Minister of Japan
- 1898: third term as PM ended by ==opposition consolidation into Kenseito==
- founded Rikken Seiyukai to counter Kenseito's rise
- 1901: resigned fourth PM term, tiring of party politics
- 1905: first Japanese Resident-General of Korea
- because of the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905
- 1909: resigned, assumed office as President of the Imperial Privy Council
- 1909, four months after resignation: assassinated by Korean-independence activist and nationalist An Jung-geun in Harbin, Manchuria