Born into a high-ranking samurai family in Kōchi castle town, Tosa.
He made a secret pact with Saigō Takamori of Satsuma to topple the shogunate.
He led troops in the Boshin War, fighting in Aizu and elsewhere.
He became a councillor of state in the new government.
In the dispute over Korea he left the government along with Saigō and others.
He submitted a petition calling for an elected national assembly, launching the Freedom and People's Rights Movement.
He founded the Liberal Party, Japan's first full-fledged political party, and became its leader.
After a speech in Gifu he was stabbed and wounded, reportedly crying, "Itagaki may die, but liberty never will" (accounts vary).
With Ōkuma Shigenobu he formed Japan's first party cabinet and became Home Minister.
He retired from politics.
He died in Tokyo.
Saigō TakamoriYoshida TōyōYamauchi Yōdō (Toyoshige)Soejima TaneomiYuri KimimasaGoto ShojiroHoshi TōruUeki Emori
Matsukata MasayoshiEnomoto TakeakiGodai TomoatsuInoue KaoruTani TatekiSanjō SanetomiŌkuma ShigenobuYamagata Aritomo
People of the Meiji period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.