[Viscount]. Japanese statesman, born at Nagoya, and commenced life as an employee in the great firm of Mitsu Bishi. In 1887 he became private secretary to Count Ōkuma, minister of state for foreign affairs. Subsequently he served as director of a bureau in the finance department, and from 1894 to 1899 he represented his country at the Court of St. James. He received the portfolio of foreign affairs in the fourth Itō cabinet (1900–1901), which remained in office only a few months. Appointed again to the same position in the Saionji cabinet (1906), he resigned after a brief interval, being opposed to the nationalization of the private railways, which measure the cabinet approved. He then remained without office until 1908, when he again accepted the post of ambassador in London. He was decorated with the grand cross of St. Michael and St. George, and earned the reputation of being one of the strongest men among the junior statesmen. He resigned his post as ambassador in London in December 1912. Returning to Japan, he joined the late Prince Katsura’s third Cabinet as Foreign Minister for the third time, but resigned soon after. He then reorganized the Doshikai, created by Katsura, and renamed it the Kensei-kai or Constitutionalist party, becoming its president in 1913. In April 1914 he joined the Ōkuma Cabinet as Foreign Minister, resigning in the following August. In August 1915 he was elected to the House of Peers.
