18 Facts About Matsukata Masayoshi

Prince Matsukata Masayoshi was a Japanese politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1891 to 1892, and from 1896 to 1898.

Matsukata Masayoshi was a genro, or senior statesman who dictated policy in the Meiji era.

Matsukata Masayoshi was given the title of prince in 1922.

Matsukata Masayoshi was born on 25 February 1835, in Arata, Kagoshima, Satsuma Province, the fourth son of Matsukata Masayasu and his wife Kesaku.

Matsukata Masayoshi's family was of the samurai warrior nobility class.

Matsukata Masayoshi started his career as a bureaucrat of the Satsuma Domain.

Matsukata Masayoshi was highly regarded by Okubo Toshimichi and Saigo Takamori, who used him as their liaison between Kyoto and the domain government in Kagoshima.

The leaders of Satsuma felt the ship was best used as cargo vessel and so Matsukata Masayoshi resigned his position as captain of the ship he had purchased.

In 1868, Matsukata Masayoshi was appointed governor of Hita Prefecture by his friend Okubo who was the powerful minister of the interior for the new Meiji government.

Matsukata Masayoshi introduced a policy of fiscal restraint that resulted in what has come to be called the "Matsukata Masayoshi Deflation".

Matsukata Masayoshi established the Bank of Japan in 1882, replacing the prior system of national banks.

When Ito Hirobumi was appointed the first modern-day Prime Minister of Japan in 1885, he named Matsukata Masayoshi to be the first Finance Minister in his cabinet.

Matsukata Masayoshi sought to protect Japanese industry from foreign competition, but was restricted by the unequal treaties.

Matsukata Masayoshi served as finance minister in seven of the first nine cabinets, and led the Finance Ministry for 15 of the 20-year period from 1881 to 1901.

Matsukata Masayoshi followed Yamagata Aritomo as Prime Minister from 6 May 1891, to 8 August 1892, and followed Ito Hirobumi as Prime Minister from 18 September 1896, to 12 January 1898, during which times he concurrently held office as finance minister.

Matsukata Masayoshi successively held offices as president of the Japanese Red Cross Society, privy councillor, gijokan, member of the House of Peers, and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan.

Matsukata Masayoshi had many children and grandchildren.

Matsukata Masayoshi's intention was that the collection should serve as the nucleus of a national museum of western art.