Aritomo Yamagata

Aritomo Yamagata (1838-1922), Japanese statesman, who built up the modern Japanese army after the Meiji Restoration. Born in Choshu domain (modern Yamaguchi Prefecture), of samurai descent, he took part in the overthrow of the shogunate in 1868 and afterwards was sent to Europe by the new government to study Western military systems. On his return, he founded the Imperial Guard (1870), became minister of war (1873), and organized a new conscript army on a Prussian model; he was named army chief of staff in 1878. His new forces suppressed the Satsuma Rebellion led by Takamori Saigo. Leader of the military faction in government, he later served as prime minister (1889-1991 and 1898-1900) and minister of justice (1892-1895). As head of government he appointed only active officers to positions in the war ministries, setting a precedent for military action outside civilian control. His Cabinets passed authoritarian, educational, and political legislation. Yamagata served as chief of staff during the Russo-Japanese War. He was made a prince in 1907 and later presided over the privy council (1909-1922). He dominated politics in Japan until his death.