OKUMA SHIGENOBU, MARQUESS

(Koshaku) born March 11, 1838, Saga, Japan died Jan. 10, 1922, Tokyo politician who twice served as prime minister of Japan (1898; 191416). He organized the Rikken Kaishinto (Progressive Party) and founded Waseda University. After receiving a conventional education, Okuma turned to Western studies and took the then-unusual step of learning English. After the Meiji Restoration, which reestablished the power of the emperor, leaders of the Meiji government broadened their base of support by adding representation from Saga. Okuma's ability and courage soon brought him an important role in government, at first specializing in finance. From 1869 to 1881 he was chiefly responsible for the modernization and reorganization of Japan's fiscal system. When members of the government were asked to propose provisions of a new Japanese constitution, Okuma astounded his colleagues by the radical nature of his proposals. He suggested that elections be held the next year, that a parliament be convened, and that the British system of a cabinet responsible to parliament be established. Later that year he exposed corruption in proposed sales of government property in Hokkaido, one of the northernmost Japanese islands. As a result of his opinions and actions Okuma was forced out of the government. But the movement for a constitution gained great impetus, and in response to popular pressure, the emperor promised that a constitution would be readied by 1890. The document was completed and promulgated a year earlier, on Feb. 1, 1889. Okuma formed a political party, the Kaishinto, that was oriented toward English parliamentary concepts. After rejoining the government in 1888, Okuma twice served as foreign minister. In 1898 he and Itagaki Taisuke, the founder of Japan's first political party, the Jiyuto (Liberal Party), joined forces and formed the Kenseito (Constitutional Party). They formed a government in 1898 with Okuma as prime minister, but it foundered a few months later over patronage disputes. Earlier, in 1882, Okuma had founded in Tokyo what soon after became known as Waseda University, one of the two leading private universities in Japan. He retired from politics in 1907 to devote all his time to Waseda, only to be recalled as prime minister in 1914. During this term Japan experienced a great economic boom, partly as a result of the increased trade brought by World War I. Japanese demands also led to a deterioration of relations with China. Okuma resigned in 1916 and retired from politics because of ill health.