born March 11, 1838, Saga, Japan
died Jan. 10, 1922, Tokyo
Japanese politician of the Meiji period who twice served as prime minister.
His initial contribution to the new government was to oversee the reorganization of Japan's fiscal system. Later, after making radical proposals for a new Japanese constitution and exposing corruption in proposed sales of government property, he was forced out of government. In 1882 he formed the Rikken Kaishintō ("Progressive Party"), which favoured English parliamentary government. With Itagaki Taisuke he created a new party in 1898, the Kenseitō ("Constitutional Party"). They formed a short-lived government with Ōkuma as prime minister. Ōkuma's second tenure as prime minister (1914–16) was more successful. He is also remembered as the founder of Waseda University (1882). See also Meiji Constitution .