Takejiro Tokonami

A politician of the Taisho and Showa periods. Born in Kagoshima on December 1, 1866. After graduating from Imperial University in 1890 (Meiji 23), he entered the civil service, working his way up through the ranks in the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs. In 1906 (Meiji 39), he became Director of the Local Bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs in the first cabinet of Saionji Kinmochi, and gained the trust of Home Minister Hara Takashi. In 1913 (Taisho 2), he joined the Seiyukai party, symbolizing the transformation of bureaucrats into political parties. The following year, he was elected as a Diet member. In 1918, he became Home Minister and President of the Board of Railways in the Hara cabinet. However, after Hara's death, he competed for leadership with Takahashi Korekiyo, and in 1924, he split from the Seiyukai party to support the cabinet of Kiyoura Keigo, forming the Seiyukai Honto party and becoming its president, turning his back on the second constitutional protection movement. Later, he led a minority group seeking power, merging with the Kenseikai to form the Rikken Minseito, then returning to the Seiyukai, and going through repeated instability. In 1931 (Showa 6), he was Minister of Railways in the Inukai Tsuyoshi Cabinet. He died on September 8, 1935, while serving as Minister of Communications under the Okada Keisuke Cabinet.

[Tsunehisa Abe]

"The Life of Tokonji Takejiro, by Maeda Renzan (1939, Dosho Kankokai)" "The Phantom Prime Minister - The Footsteps of Tokonji Takejiro, by Ando Hideo (1983, Gakugei Shorin)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大正・昭和期の政治家。慶応(けいおう)2年12月1日鹿児島に生まれる。1890年（明治23）帝国大学を卒業後官界に入り、大蔵・内務畑を歩み累進。1906年（明治39）第一次西園寺公望(さいおんじきんもち)内閣の内務省地方局長となり、原敬(はらたかし)内相の信任を得る。1913年（大正2）政友会に入党、官僚の政党化を象徴した。翌年代議士に当選。1918年原内閣の内相兼鉄道院総裁。しかし原の没後は高橋是清(たかはしこれきよ)と主導権を争い、1924年清浦奎吾(きようらけいご)内閣を支持して政友会を割り政友本党を結成し総裁に就任、第二次護憲運動に背を向けた。のち少数勢力を率いて政権を求め、憲政会と合流して立憲民政党を結成したり、政友会に復帰したり、動揺を繰り返した。1931年（昭和6）犬養毅(いぬかいつよし)内閣の鉄道相。岡田啓介(おかだけいすけ)内閣下の逓信(ていしん)相在任中の昭和10年9月8日死去。

［阿部恒久］

『前田蓮山著『床次竹二郎伝』（1939・同書刊行会）』▽『安藤英男著『幻の総理大臣――床次竹二郎の足跡』（1983・学芸書林）』

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