born Aug. 3, 1838, Hagi, Japan
died Feb 1, 1922, Tokyo
First prime minister under Japan's parliamentary regime (1889–91, 1898–1900).
As a samurai youth in Chōshū province, Yamagata was among those who answered the foreign threat with the slogan "Sonnō jōi" ("Revere the emperor, expel the barbarians"). In 1864 Western gunboats bombarded the Chōshu 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 Saigō Takamori 's rebellion in 1877. In politics he was more conservative than his contemporary Itō 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 .