Background
Aritomo (original name: Kyosuke) Yamagata was born on June 14, 1838, in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. He was from a lower-ranked samurai family
Prince Yamagata Aritomo, before 1922
Yamagata in his early years.
(Japanese Edition)
Japanese Edition
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有朋 山縣
Aritomo (original name: Kyosuke) Yamagata was born on June 14, 1838, in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. He was from a lower-ranked samurai family
In 1855, Aritomo Yamagata became a student of Shokasonjuku, a private school run by Yoshida Shoin, where he devoted his energies to the growing underground movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate.
Arimoto Yamagata became a staff officer of Kiheitai, led by Shinsaku Takasugi, and distinguished himself in several battles against the Shogunate army. Laid the basis for clan government by effecting a union between Satsuma (Kagoshima) and Choshu (Yamaguchi) clans.
In 1869. he accompanied Tsugumichi Saigo to Europe. After his return worked for the establishment of the military system that resulted in the promulgation of Conscription Law in 1872. In 1885, he became an appointed Home Minister.
In 1889, Yamagata formed the First Yamagata Cabinet; resigned following year. In the same year, he laid down fundamental principles of education in connection with the proclamation of the Imperial Rescript on Education. In 1898, he formed the Second Yamagata Cabinet. Arimoto Yamagata promulgated the Civil Service Appointment Ordinance.
He served as a member of the Council of War during the Russian-Japanese War (1904-1905) and later as a Privy Councilor. Since the death of Hirobumi Ito (1909) wielded great power as genro (elder statesman).
(Japanese Edition)
Yamagata like many Japanese was strongly influenced by the striking success of Prussia in transforming itself from an agricultural state to a leading industrial and military power. He accepted Prussian political ideas, which favored military expansion abroad and authoritarian government at home.
Yamagata was a talented garden designer, and today the gardens he designed are considered masterpieces of Japanese gardens. A noted example is the garden of the villa Murin-an in Kyoto.
As Yamagata had no children, he adopted a nephew, the second son of his eldest sister, to be his heir.
