Katsura Tarō
Prince Katsura Tarō (桂 太郎, 4 January 1848 – 10 October 1913) was a Japanese politician and general of the Imperial Japanese Army who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1901 to 1913.
Prince Katsura Tarō | |
|---|---|
桂 太郎 | |
| Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan | |
| In office 21 August 1912 – 21 December 1912 | |
| Monarch | Taishō |
| Preceded by | Tokudaiji Sanetsune |
| Succeeded by | Prince Fushimi Sadanaru |
| Prime Minister of Japan | |
| In office 21 December 1912 – 20 February 1913 | |
| Monarch | Taishō |
| Preceded by | Saionji Kinmochi |
| Succeeded by | Yamamoto Gonnohyōe |
| In office 14 July 1908 – 30 August 1911 | |
| Monarch | Meiji |
| Preceded by | Saionji Kinmochi |
| Succeeded by | Saionji Kinmochi |
| In office 2 June 1901 – 7 January 1906 | |
| Monarch | Meiji |
| Preceded by | Saionji Kinmochi (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Saionji Kinmochi |
| Minister of War | |
| In office 12 January 1898 – 23 December 1900 | |
| Prime Minister | Itō Hirobumi Yamagata Aritomo Ōkuma Shigenobu |
| Preceded by | Takashima Tomonosuke |
| Succeeded by | Kodama Gentarō |
| Governor General of Taiwan | |
| In office 2 June 1896 – 14 October 1896 | |
| Monarch | Meiji |
| Preceded by | Kabayama Sukenori |
| Succeeded by | Nogi Maresuke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1848 Hagi, Nagato, Japan |
| Died | 10 October 1913 (aged 65) Tokyo, Japan |
| Cause of death | Stomach cancer |
| Resting place | Shōin Jinja, Setagaya, Tokyo |
| Political party | Constitutional Association of Allies (1913) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (1896–1913) |
| Spouse | Katsura Kanako (1875–1940) |
| Profession | Soldier and politician |
| Awards | See Decorations |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Branch/service | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Years of service | 1870–1901 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | IJA 3rd Division |
| Battles/wars | Boshin War First Sino-Japanese War |
Katsura was a distinguished general of the First Sino-Japanese War and a genrō of the Meiji government who served as Governor-General of Taiwan and Minister of War. Katsura was appointed Prime Minister in 1901 as a military candidate and positioned himself as a conservative outside party politics. Katsura's first and second premierships oversaw several major events in modern Japanese history, including the Russo-Japanese War and the annexation of Korea. Katsura's third premiership triggered the Taisho Political Crisis, and he resigned three months later after a vote of no confidence.
Katsura is the second-longest serving Prime Minister of Japan, after Shinzo Abe, and served for 2883 days (7 years and 330 days) over his three terms from 1901 to 1913.