Hirobumi Ito

A representative clan politician of the Meiji period. Duke. Born in the Choshu clan. Born on September 2, 1839, to a poor farming family in Kumage County, Suo Province (Yamaguchi Prefecture). His childhood name was Risuke, later Shunsuke. He called himself Shunbo. His father Juzo inherited the Ito family along with his whole family, so he was placed at the very bottom of the samurai class. He studied at Yoshida Shoin's Shokasonjuku school, and later volunteered with Takasugi Shinsaku and others in the Sonno Joi movement, and participated in the burning of the British Embassy in 1862 (Bunkyu 2). The following year, he was ordered by the domain to study in England, and in 1864 (Genji 1) while in London, he learned of plans for an attack on the Choshu domain by the combined fleet of the United States, Britain, France, and the Netherlands, and hurried back to Japan to urge the domain lord to open up to the world, but his urging was rejected. In the same year, outraged by the way the domain leaders handled the First Choshu Expedition by the shogunate, he raised an army with Takasugi and others, and won the domain's civil war. Thereafter, he participated in reforms of the domain's government as the domain's mainstream faction, and was mainly responsible for foreign negotiations.

In 1868 (Meiji 1), he entered the Meiji government as a foreign affairs officer, and served as counselor and judge of the Foreign Affairs Bureau, and governor of Hyogo Prefecture. The following year, he submitted a petition with Mutsu Munemitsu and others regarding the political reforms that were to come, and quickly emerged as an enlightened bureaucrat. He was made a junior assistant to the Treasury and junior assistant to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and was in charge of reforming the monetary system. In 1870, he traveled to America to investigate the financial and monetary system, and led the adoption of the gold standard and the promulgation of the New Currency Act the following year. In 1871, he traveled to America and Europe as a deputy envoy of the Iwakura Mission, during which time he gained the trust of Okubo Toshimichi. After returning to Japan in 1873, he supported Okubo and Kido Takayoshi in the debate over the expedition to Korea, which became a major political issue, and rejected the expeditionary faction. He was made a councilor and minister of public works in the government reshuffle that followed. In 1875, he mediated the Osaka Conference in an attempt to return Kido, who had resigned from government the previous year in opposition to the dispatch of troops to Taiwan, to the government, and decided on a policy of gradual transition to a constitutional system and the establishment of the Genroin (Senate), Daishinin (Great Court of Judicature), and other institutions.

After Okubo, who had been trying to move to a new system after dealing with the samurai rebellions and the Satsuma Rebellion, was assassinated in 1878, Ito succeeded him as Minister of the Interior and became a central figure in the Meiji government. He promoted the Ryukyu Disposition, the abolition of the samurai assistant system, and the establishment of the Education Order. On the other hand, the constitutional proposal drafted by the Senate did not satisfy the government leaders, so the government sought constitutional opinions from the councilors. In 1881, Okuma Shigenobu submitted a radical constitutional opinion, which Ito opposed. In the same year, he became the main character in the so-called Meiji 14th Year Coup, which expelled Okuma and other enlightened bureaucrats en masse and promised the opening of a parliament in 1890. The following year, in 1882, he traveled to Europe and conducted constitutional research in Germany and Austria. After returning to Japan in 1884, he established the System Investigation Bureau at the Imperial Court and became its director, and began to develop various systems for the transition to a constitutional system. In the same year, he enacted the Peerage Law, making the new peerage a guardian of the Imperial family, and in 1885, he established the Cabinet system, replacing the Dajokan, and became the first Prime Minister. The following year, together with Inoue Kowashi, Ito Miyoji, and Kaneko Kentaro, he began drafting the Constitution, the Imperial House Law, the House of Peers Law, the House of Representatives Election Law, and other legislation, and when the Privy Council was established in 1888, he deliberated on the draft Constitution and other legislation as its chairman.

Immediately after the promulgation of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan in 1889 (Meiji 22), he made his "transcendentalist" stance clear, declaring that he would run the Diet without regard for the trends of political parties. When the Diet opened in 1890, he became the first Speaker of the House of Peers, and thereafter provided advice to the cabinets of Yamagata Aritomo and Matsukata Masayoshi on the running of the Diet. As conflict with the Minto intensified, he attempted to start the formation of a political party himself in 1892, but failed. After the collapse of the Matsukata Cabinet, he organized a second cabinet consisting of all statesmen, achieved treaty revision, and engaged in the conduct of the Sino-Japanese War. In 1898, when he was in charge of his third cabinet, he failed to form an alliance with the Liberal and Progressive parties, and when he submitted a proposal to increase land tax to the Diet as a source of funds for postwar management, he met with strong opposition from the political parties. He then began to form a government party, but was thwarted by opposition from within the government and resigned. He then departed for an inspection tour of Korea and China, but returned home feeling keenly aware of the tense situation in China. With the intention of reorganizing and strengthening the domestic system to be able to respond to such a situation, he conceived of reforming political parties, and in 1900 (Meiji 33), he formed the Rikken Seiyukai Party and became its president. In the same year, he formed his fourth cabinet with the Seiyukai Party's backing, but the following year, in 1901, he met with strong opposition from the House of Peers, and resigned en masse due to inconsistency within the cabinet over financial policy. In the same year, when talk of an Anglo-Japanese Alliance arose, he visited Russia in the hope of the possibility of a Japanese-Russian entente, but he was unable to achieve any concrete results, and ultimately played a role in promoting the conclusion of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902. After returning to Japan, he struggled to lead the Seiyukai party, which was determined to maintain its opposition position, and in 1903 he resigned as party president and became President of the Privy Council, restoring his status as a genro (elder statesman).

From then on, as a genro, he was involved in deciding important domestic and international policies, and played a particularly important role in the conduct of the Russo-Japanese War and in dealing with the Korean and Manchurian issues after the war. When the Resident-General of Korea was established in 1905, he became its first Resident-General, seized control of Korea's diplomatic power, gradually seized various domestic administrative powers, and promoted the colonization of Korea, paving the way for the annexation of Korea. He resigned as Resident-General in 1909 (Meiji 42), and in October of the same year, he traveled to Manchuria to meet with Russian Finance Minister Kokovtsov to adjust Japan-Russia relations, and was assassinated by Korean independence activist An Jung-geun at the train station when he arrived in Harbin on the 26th.

He was active in the Sonno Joi movement in the Choshu domain at the end of the Edo period, and his study abroad in England opened his eyes to the West. Especially after the Meiji Restoration, he promoted domestic and foreign policies as an international expert, carefully considering the trends of the Western powers. On the other hand, he took a hard-line stance in terms of policies toward Korea and China, and promoted coercive negotiations to realize Japan's interests in the peace negotiations after the Sino-Japanese War and in policies toward Korea during and after the Russo-Japanese War. In terms of domestic policies, he was seen as an enlightened person from the early Meiji period, and actively promoted the modernization of various systems and led the transition to a constitutional system. When the Diet was established, he initially declared a "transcendentalist" stance and tried to ignore political parties, but after realizing the need for political parties from his experience with the early Diet, he showed a flexible political stance in response to changing circumstances, such as by starting a political party organization himself. This political line brought to the surface a conflict with the conservative bureaucracy, including Yamagata Aritomo, who attacked Ito's stance on foreign affairs as weak diplomacy and also rejected his formation of a political party. However, he was highly trusted by Emperor Meiji, and throughout the Meiji period, he wielded great influence over domestic and foreign policies as the most powerful member of the Genro (elder councilors).

[Uno Shunichi]

"The Biography of Ito Hirobumi, compiled by the Shun'e Memorial Society (1940, Toseisha)" ▽ "Modern Japanese Politicians" by Oka Yoshitake (1960, Bungeishunju Shinsha)" ▽ "Modern Japanese Politicians" edited by Toyama Shigeki (1964, Kodansha)" ▽ "Documents Related to Ito Hirobumi, vols. 1-9, compiled by the Ito Hirobumi Documents Research Group (1973-1981, Hanawa Shobo)" ▽ "Prime Ministers of the Meiji and Taisho Eras 1: Ito Hirobumi and the Elders of the Meiji Restoration" by Togawa Inotake (1983, Kodansha)" ▽ "Biographies of Former Prime Ministers Series 1: Ito Hirobumi, supervised by Mikuriya Takashi (2005, Yumani Shobo)" ▽ "The First Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi, volumes 1 and 2, written by Toyoda Yutaka (Kodansha Bunko)" ▽ "Ito Hirobumi - The Prime Minister who Created a Modern Nation" by Michihide Hanyu (PHP Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治時代の代表的な藩閥政治家。公爵。長州藩出身。天保(てんぽう)12年9月2日、周防(すおう)国（山口県）熊毛(くまげ)郡の貧農の家に生まれる。幼名利助(りすけ)、のち俊輔(しゅんすけ)。春畝(しゅんぼ)と号した。父十蔵が家族ぐるみで伊藤家を継いだため、士分の最末端に籍を置くことになった。吉田松陰(よしだしょういん)の松下村塾(しょうかそんじゅく)に学び、のち高杉晋作(たかすぎしんさく)らと尊王攘夷(じょうい)運動に挺身(ていしん)、1862年（文久2）のイギリス公使館焼打ちにも参加した。翌年藩命によりイギリスに留学、1864年（元治1）ロンドンで米英仏蘭(らん)四国連合艦隊の長州藩攻撃の計画を知って急ぎ帰国、藩主らに開国への転換を説いたが、いれられなかった。同年幕府による第一次長州征伐に対する藩首脳らの処置に憤激して高杉らと挙兵、この藩内戦に勝利し、以後藩主流派として藩政改革に参画、おもに対外交渉の任にあたった。

　1868年（明治1）明治政府の外国事務掛として出仕、参与兼外国事務局判事、兵庫県知事を歴任、翌年陸奥宗光(むつむねみつ)らと当面する政治改革についての建白を提出、早くも開明派官僚として頭角を現した。大蔵少輔(しょうゆう)兼民部少輔となり貨幣制度の改革を担当、1870年には財政幣制調査のためアメリカに出張、翌年の金本位制の採用、新貨条例の公布に導いた。1871年岩倉使節団の副使として米欧に出張、その間に大久保利通(おおくぼとしみち)の信任を得ることになった。1873年帰国後の政局で大問題となった征韓論争には、大久保、木戸孝允(きどたかよし)を支持して征韓派を退け、その直後の政府改造で参議兼工部卿(こうぶきょう)となった。1875年には、その前年に台湾出兵に反対して下野していた木戸の政府復帰を図って大阪会議を斡旋(あっせん)、漸次立憲制への移行方針と元老院、大審院などの創設を決定した。

　士族反乱や西南戦争の処理を終わって、新しい体制への移行を試みようとしていた大久保が1878年に暗殺されると、その後を継いで内務卿となり、明治政府の中心人物となった。琉球(りゅうきゅう)処分、侍補制度の廃止、教育令の制定などを推進した。他方、元老院起草の憲法案が政府首脳を満足させず、諸参議の憲法意見を徴することになり、1881年大隈重信(おおくましげのぶ)の急進的な憲法意見が提出されると伊藤はこれと対立、同年のいわゆる明治十四年の政変によって大隈ら開明派官僚をいっせいに追放するとともに、1890年の議会開設を約束した政変劇の主役となった。翌1882年渡欧し、ドイツ、オーストリアで憲法調査にあたり、帰国後の1884年宮中に制度取調局を創設してその長官となり、立憲制への移行に伴う諸制度の整備に着手した。同年華族令を制定して新しい華族を皇室の藩屏(はんぺい)としたのをはじめ、1885年には太政官(だじょうかん)にかえて内閣制度を創設し、初代首相に就任した。また翌年から井上毅(いのうえこわし)、伊東巳代治(いとうみよじ)、金子堅太郎(かねこけんたろう)らと憲法、皇室典範のほか貴族院令、衆議院議員選挙法などの草案の起草に着手し、1888年枢密院が新設されるとその議長として憲法草案などの審議にあたった。

　1889年（明治22）大日本帝国憲法の発布直後に、「超然主義」の立場を鮮明にし、政党の動向を顧慮することなく議会運営にあたることを宣言した。1890年の議会開設に際しては初代の貴族院議長となり、以後山県有朋(やまがたありとも)、松方正義(まつかたまさよし)両内閣の議会運営に助言を与え、民党との対立が激化すると、1892年自ら政党結成に着手しようとするが、果たせなかった。松方内閣の倒壊後は、元勲を網羅して第二次内閣を組織し、条約改正を実現し、日清(にっしん)戦争の遂行にあたった。1898年第三次内閣を担当するに際しては自由・進歩両党との提携に失敗し、戦後経営の財源として議会に地租増徴案を提出して政党側の激しい反対にあうと、政府党結成に着手するが、政府部内からの反対もあって挫折(ざせつ)、挂冠(けいかん)（辞職）した。その後、朝鮮、中国の視察旅行に出発、中国情勢の緊迫化を痛感して帰国。そうした情勢に対応できる国内体制の再編強化を企図して政党改造を構想、1900年（明治33）立憲政友会を結成し、その総裁となる。同年政友会を背景に第四次内閣を組閣したが、翌1901年には貴族院の根強い反発にあい、さらに財政方針をめぐる閣内不統一のため総辞職した。この年日英同盟論がおこると、日露協商の可能性に期待して訪露するが、具体的な成果は得られず、結果的には1902年の日英同盟締結を促進する役割を果たした。帰国後は、野党の立場を貫こうとする政友会の統率に苦悩し、1903年には総裁を辞任して枢密院議長に就任し、元老身分に復帰した。

　以後元老として内外の重要政策の決定に関与し、とくに日露戦争の遂行と戦後における朝鮮問題、満州問題の処理には重要な役割を果たした。1905年韓国統監府が設置されると、初代統監に就任、韓国の外交権を掌握し、逐次内政の諸権限を収奪して植民地化を進め、韓国併合への地ならし役を務めた。1909年（明治42）統監を辞任し、同年10月、日露関係を調整するためロシアの蔵相ココーフツォフと会談するため渡満、26日ハルビンに到着した際、駅頭で韓国の独立運動家安重根(あんじゅうこん)に暗殺された。

　幕末の長州藩で尊王攘夷運動に活躍し、イギリスへの留学が欧米への開眼となり、とくに明治維新以後は国際通として欧米列強の動向を慎重に顧慮しながら内外政策を推進した。他方、対朝鮮・中国政策の面では強硬姿勢をとり、日清戦争の講和交渉や、日露戦争中から戦後における対韓政策などでは、日本の利益実現のため強圧的交渉を推進している。国内政策の面では、明治初年より開明派と目され、諸制度の近代化を積極的に推進するとともに、立憲制への転換を主導した。議会開設にあたっては、当初「超然主義」を宣言して政党無視の立場をとろうとしたが、初期議会の経験から政党の必要を痛感すると、自ら政党組織に乗り出すなど、状況の変化に対して柔軟な政治姿勢を示した。こうした政治路線は、山県有朋らの保守派官僚層との対立を表面化させることになり、彼らは外交面で伊藤の立場を軟弱外交として攻撃し、またその政党結成に対しても拒否的反応を示した。しかし、明治天皇の信任は厚く、明治期を通じて元老中第一の実力者として内外政策に大きな影響力を行使した。

［宇野俊一］

『春畝公追頌会編『伊藤博文伝』全3冊（1940・統正社）』▽『岡義武著『近代日本の政治家』（1960・文芸春秋新社）』▽『遠山茂樹編『近代日本の政治家』（1964・講談社）』▽『伊藤博文関係文書研究会編『伊藤博文関係文書』1～9（1973～1981・塙書房）』▽『戸川猪佐武著『明治・大正の宰相1　伊藤博文と維新の元勲たち』（1983・講談社）』▽『御厨貴監修『歴代総理大臣伝記叢書1　伊藤博文』（2005・ゆまに書房）』▽『豊田穣著『初代総理　伊藤博文』上下（講談社文庫）』▽『羽生道英著『伊藤博文――近代国家を創り上げた宰相』（PHP文庫）』

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