Katō Takaaki

Count Katō Takaaki (, Kyujitai: 加藤󠄁 高明󠄁; born Hattori Sōkichi []; 3 January 186028 January 1926), also known as Katō Kōmei, was a Japanese politician, diplomat, and Prime Minister of Japan from 1924 until his death on 28 January 1926, during the period which historians have called "Taishō Democracy".

As Minister for Foreign Affairs, he negotiated the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, and presented China with the Twenty-One Demands, which demanded greater Japanese control of China. He was a key figure in the campaign for universal male suffrage in Japan. He resigned his post as ambassador in December 1912, and again served as Foreign Minister in the 3rd Katsura and 2nd Ōkuma administrations, but soon resigned. He created a Constitutionalist party, becoming its president in 1913, and joined the cabinet as Foreign Minister in April 1914.

He was thus foreign minister at the outbreak of World War I, and in the words of Hew Strachan (The First World War, p. 72): "Of all the world's statesmen in 1914, Katō proved the most adroit at using war for the purposes of policy. Domestically he exploited it to assert the dominance of the Foreign Ministry and of the cabinet in the making of Japan's foreign policy. Internationally he took the opportunity to redefine Japan's relationship with China. In doing so he was not simply outflanking the extremists opposed to him; he was also honouring his own belief that Japan should be a great power like those of Europe."

Katō's decision that Japan should enter World War I greatly angered the genrō, who had not been consulted, and who therefore felt that their power and authority were being slighted. In addition, Katō created considerable controversy in January 1915, when he issued the Twenty-One Demands to China, which sparked a major international incident and considerable opposition domestically.

Premiership (1924–1926)

In 1915, Katō was selected as a member of the House of Peers by Imperial command. He became president of the conservative Kenseikai political party in the following year, whose policies he greatly influenced with his opposition to the genrō, support of the constitution and support for extension of popular suffrage.

Katō was appointed Prime Minister of Japan from 1924 until his death in early 1926. His cabinet was nicknamed the "Goken Sanpa Naikaku" (Cabinet based on the three pro-Constitution factions), which, despite its coalition nature, was able to enact significant legislation. In 1925, Katō had the General Election Law enacted, which extended the vote to all male citizens over the age of 25. He also ratified the Peace Preservation Law, which suppressed leftist political organizations, and concluded the Soviet–Japanese Basic Convention. He also initiated universal military service. Katō strove to reduce government spending, but also suffered considerable personal criticism for his family links with Mitsubishi.

Death Katō Takaaki died in office from pneumonia in 1926, aged 66.

Honours From the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (28 December 1902) Baron (24 August 1911) Viscount (14 July 1916) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers (14 July 1916) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (28 January 1926; posthumous) Count (28 January 1926; posthumous)