Katsura Tarō

First administration

Katsura became Prime Minister for the first time on June 2, 1901, and he retained the office for four and a half years to January 7, 1906, which was then a record in Japan. Japan emerged as a major imperialist power in East Asia. In terms of foreign affairs, it was marked by the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902 and victory over the Russian Empire in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. During his tenure, the Taft–Katsura agreement, accepting Japanese hegemony over Korea, was reached with the United States. Katsura received the Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George from British King Edward VII and was elevated to the rank of marquess by Emperor Meiji.

In terms of domestic policy, Katsura was a strictly-conservative politician who attempted to distance himself from the Diet of Japan and party politics. His political views mirrored that of Yamagata Aritomo in that he viewed that his sole responsibility was to the Emperor. He vied for control of the government with the Rikken Seiyūkai, the majority party of the lower house, headed by his archrival, Marquess Saionji Kinmochi.

In January 1906, Katsura resigned the premiership to Saionji Kinmochi over the unpopularTreaty of Portsmouth (1905), ending the war between Japan and Russia. However, his resignation was part of a "back door deal," brokered by Hara Takashi to alternate power between Saionji and Hara.

On April 1, 1906, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.

Second administration

Katsura returned as Prime Minister from July 14, 1908 to August 30, 1911. His second term was noteworthy for the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty of 1910. He also promulgated the Factory Act in 1911, the first act for the purpose of labor protection in Japan.

Katsura was increasingly unpopular during his second term over public perception that he was using his office to further both his personal fortune and the interests of the military (gunbatsu) over the welfare of the people. He also faced growing public dissatisfaction over the persistence of the hanbatsu domainal based politics.

After his resignation, he became a kōshaku (公爵 = prince), Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan and one of the genrō.

Third administration

Katsura's brief reappointment again as Prime Minister again from December 21, 1912 to February 20, 1913 sparked widespread riots in what became known as the Taisho Political Crisis. His appointment was viewed as a plot by the genrō to overthrow the Meiji Constitution. However, rather than compromising, Katsura created his own political party, the Rikken Dōshikai(Constitutional Association of Allies) in an effort to establish his own support base.

However, faced with a no-confidence motion, the first successful one in Japanese history, and the loss of the support of his backers, he was forced to resign in February 1913. He was succeeded by Yamamoto Gonnohyōe.

Titles

• Viscount (August 20, 1895)
• Count (February 27, 1902)^[1]
• Marquess (September 21, 1907)
• Prince (April 21, 1911)

Decorations

• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (August 20, 1895)
• Order of the Golden Kite, 3rd class (August 20, 1895)
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (December 27, 1901)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX
• Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) (July 8, 1905) ^[2]
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers (October 10, 1913; posthumous)
• Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (October 10, 1913; posthumous) (Grand Cordon: April 1, 1906)

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