born Aug. 3, 1838, Hagi, Japan
died Feb 1, 1922, Tokyo
First prime minister under Japan's parliamentary regime (188991, 18981900).
As a samurai youth in Ch 014D; sh 016B; province, Yamagata was among those who answered the foreign threat with the slogan "Sonn 014D; j 014D; i" ("Revere the emperor, expel the barbarians"). In 1864 Western gunboats bombarded the Ch 014D; shu coast, convincing him of the need for modern armaments. After participating in the Meiji Restoration , he went abroad to research military institutions, returning to become commander of an imperial force of 10,000 troops. When he introduced conscription, bearing arms ceased to be the exclusive prerogative of a warrior class. His forces defeated Saig 014D; Takamori 's rebellion in 1877. In politics he was more conservative than his contemporary It 014D; Hirobumi , favouring a strong executive. As prime minister, his policies were expansionist; Japan sent the largest of all foreign forces to China to quell the Boxer Rebellion . He increased the autonomy of the military and tried to suppress an incipient social-labour movement. After retirement, he continued to wield power as a genro (elder statesman). See also Meiji Constitution ; Meiji period .