ITO HIROBUMI, KOSHAKU

( (Duke, or Prince), ) born Oct. 14, 1841, Suo Province, Japan died Oct. 26, 1909, Harbin, Manchuria, China original name Toshisuke Japanese elder statesman (genro) and premier (188588, 189296, 1898, 190001), who played a crucial role in the building of modern Japan. He helped draft the Meiji constitution (1889) and brought about the establishment of a bicameral national Diet (1890). He was created a marquess in 1884 and a duke (or prince) in 1907. Additional reading Kengi Hamada, Prince Ito (1936, reprinted 1979), a biography, is marred somewhat by flowery language. George Akita, Foundations of Constitutional Government in Modern Japan, 18681900 (1967), provides a broad context.