Ito hirobumi biography of michael douglas

The experience in Great Britain convinced him of the necessity of Japan adopting Western ways. On his return to Japan, he led negotiations after the English bombardment of Choshu and convinced the Japanese leaders not to go to war with the foreign powers.

Ito hirobumi biography of michael douglas: Ito Hirobumi, who was to become

After the Meiji Restoration , Ito studied Western financial systems and toured the West with other government officials. In , after extensive research on European political systems, he began drafting Meiji Japan's constitution, based on that of Prussia. He was chosen to be the prime minister of the first cabinet government in , and later began to promote party politics.

In , he became head of the privy council, serving four more times as prime minister in , , and , and leading Japan to the status of a world power. He resigned in , but was assassinated in Manchuria by a Korean nationalist. At that time he met Ernest Satow, later a lifelong friend, for the first time. Through his connections with Kido and Okubo Toshimichi, another leader of early Meiji Japan, Ito was able to visit the United States on government missions, and went to Europe with the Iwakura Mission , —73 to research matters such as taxation and budgetary systems and treaty revision.

Later in , he was sent on the Iwakura Mission around the world as vice-envoy extraordinary, during which he won the confidence of Okubo Toshimichi, another leader of the Meiji Restoration. His political career In , Okubo, the most powerful figure in the government, was assassinated, and Ito took over the post of Home Minister and secured a central position in the Meiji government.

His advancement brought him into conflict with the equally talented and ambitious statesman Okuma Shigenobu.