Born in Edo, he was soon adopted into a foot-soldier family of the Sendai domain.
He went to study in America but was tricked into a form of bonded labour.
He returned to Japan and worked using his English.
As the first head of the Patent Office he built Japan's patent system.
He took part in a silver mining venture in Peru, which failed.
He joined the Bank of Japan.
To finance the Russo-Japanese War he succeeded in raising foreign loans in London and elsewhere.
He became governor of the Bank of Japan.
After Hara Takashi's death he became prime minister.
As Finance Minister he quelled the financial panic in which banks were failing one after another.
Finance Minister again, he steered recovery from the depression.
In the February 26 Incident he was attacked by young army officers and lost his life.
Saionji KinmochiYamamoto GonbeeTerauchi MasatakeInukai TsuyoshiHara TakashiOzaki YukioKatō TakaakiKatō Tomosaburō
People of the Taishō period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.