Home > Saionji Kinmochi

He was born in KyotoToji Temple a symbol of the city, and the tallest pagoda in Japan Kyoto ( Japanese: ; Kyoto-shi) is a city in Japan that has a population of 1. 5 million and time zone UTC + 9 hours. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto p as the son of a Tokudaiji kugeThe kuge was a Japanese aristocratic class that dominated the Japanese imperial court in Kyoto until the rise of the Shogunate in the 12th century at which point it was eclipsed by the daimyo. The kuge still provided a weak court around the Emperor. The w, and was adopted by another kuge family, the Saionji. However, he grew up near his biological parents. Since the Tokudaiji and Saionji lived very near the Imperial Palace, the young Saionji was frequently ordered to visit the palace as a playmate of the young prince who was the future Emperor Meiji. Over time they became close friends. Kinmochi's biological brother Tokudaiji Sanetsune later became the Chief Chamberlain of the Emperor Meiji. Kinmochi's close relationship to the Imperial Court helped him in his political career. In his later political life, he was an influence on both the Taisho and Showa emperors.

As the heir of a noble family, Saionji participated in politics from an early age and was known for his brillant talent. During the Boshin WarThe Boshin War (, 1868- 1869; literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro- Imperial forces in Japan. The defeat of the shogunate lead directly to the Meiji Restoration. Discontent between the shogunate an, which some noblemen at the Imperial Court considered to be a private dispute between samurai, Saionji held the strong opinion that the Imperial Court should seize the initiative and take part in the war. After the war, he was successively appointed to the governorship of Sanyo region, the governorship of Echigo Province and other offices. He went to France to research European culture and lived in Paris. While there, he gained many acquaintances, including Clemenceau .

In 1882Events February 2 The Knights of Columbus are formed in New Haven, Connecticut February 7 In Mississippi City the last heavyweight boxing championship bareknuckle fight takes place. March 2 Robert Maclean fails to assassinate Queen Victoria at Windsor Mar, Ito HirobumiCount Ito Hirobumi ( Ito Hirobumi 1841 1909, also called Hirofumi Hakubun was a Japanese politician and the country's first Prime Minister (and the 5th, 7th and 10th). 1st: December 22, 1885 April 30, 1888 861 days 5th: August 8, 1892 August 31, 1896 1,48 visited Europe in order to research the constitutional systems of each European state. Saionji journeyed with Ito, as they knew each other very well. In 1890Events January 2 Alice Sanger becomes the first female staffer for the U. White House. January 25 The United Mine Workers of America is founded. January 25 Nellie Bly completes her round-the-world journey in 72 days. March 1 Leon Bourgeois succeeds Ernest, Ito founded the Rikkenseiyukai political party and Saionji joined it. Reflecting on his experience in Europe, Saionji had a liberal political point of view and supported parliamentary government. He was one of the few politicians who claimed that the majority party in parliament had to be the basis for forming the cabinet. Nationalists accused him of being a globalist. In his last days, Saionji tried to diminish the influence of the Army in political issues but he couldn't prevent Japan from engaging in military adventures in China and other Asian countries.

On the other hand, Saionji's political philosophy was heavily influenced by his background; he believed the Imperial Court should be guarded and that it should not participate directly in politics - the same strategy employed by noblemen and the Court in Kyoto for hundreds of years. This was another point in which he was opposed by nationalists in the Army, who wished for the Emperor to participate in Japanese politics directly and thus weaken both parliament and the cabinet.

Saionji had a strong interst in education and founded some schools. He was influential in the formation of Kyoto University.