Oura Kanetaka
Encyclopedia
was a politician and bureaucrat in late Meiji
and early Taishō period
Empire of Japan
. In 1907, he was raised to the rank and title of danshaku (baron
) under the kazoku
peerage system.
of Satsuma Domain. As a Satsuma samurai
, Ōura Kanetaka participated in the Boshin War
and the suppression of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei
during the Meiji Restoration
. Under the new Meiji government, he joined the fledgling Japanese police force
, working his way up through the ranks until he became Assistant Police Inspector of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
. In this capacity, he was field commander of the police forces sent to assist the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army
in suppressing his fellow Satsuma countrymen in the Satsuma Rebellion
.
(1893-1895), Yamaguchi Prefecture
(1895-1896), Kumamoto Prefecture
(1896-1898) and Miyazaki Prefecture
(1898), Ōura was appointed Superintendent General of the Police, and was given a seat in the House of Peers
of the Diet of Japan
. In 1903, under the 1st Katsura administration
, he became Minister of Communications
. He then served as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce
under the 2nd Katsura cabinet and was also chairman of the Japanese committee organizing the Japan–British Exhibition. He subsequently served as Home Minister
under the 3rd Katsura cabinet, and as both Minister of Agriculture and Trade and Home Minister under the 2nd Ōkuma administration
.
; he was forced to retire, and eventually the Ōkuma administration itself was brought down.
.
Ōura died in 1918 at the age of 68.
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
and early Taishō period
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. In 1907, he was raised to the rank and title of danshaku (baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
) under the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
peerage system.
Early life
The Ōura family were hereditary retainers to a branch of the Shimazu clanShimazu clan
The were the daimyō of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan.The Shimazu were identified as one of the tozama or outsider daimyō clans in contrast with the fudai or insider clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan,The Shimazu were...
of Satsuma Domain. As a Satsuma samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
, Ōura Kanetaka participated in the Boshin War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
and the suppression of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei
Ouetsu Reppan Domei
-External links:**...
during the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. Under the new Meiji government, he joined the fledgling Japanese police force
Police services of the Empire of Japan
The of the Empire of Japan, consisted of numerous police services, in many cases with overlapping jurisdictions.-History and background:During the Tokugawa bakufu , police functions were based on a combination of appointed town magistrates of samurai status, who served simultaneously as a chief of...
, working his way up through the ranks until he became Assistant Police Inspector of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...
. In this capacity, he was field commander of the police forces sent to assist the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in suppressing his fellow Satsuma countrymen in the Satsuma Rebellion
Satsuma Rebellion
The was a revolt of Satsuma ex-samurai against the Meiji government from January 29 to September 24, 1877, 9 years into the Meiji Era. It was the last, and the most serious, of a series of armed uprisings against the new government.-Background:...
.
Political career
After serving as appointed governor of Shimane PrefectureShimane Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, after its eastern neighbor Tottori. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the Chūgoku Mountain Range on the south side and to...
(1893-1895), Yamaguchi Prefecture
Yamaguchi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Yamaguchi, in the center of the prefecture. The largest city, however, is Shimonoseki.- History :...
(1895-1896), Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
(1896-1898) and Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Miyazaki.- History :Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture....
(1898), Ōura was appointed Superintendent General of the Police, and was given a seat in the House of Peers
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
of the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
. In 1903, under the 1st Katsura administration
Katsura Taro
Prince , was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, politician and three-time Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:Katsura was born into a samurai family from Hagi, Chōshū Domain...
, he became Minister of Communications
Ministry of Communications
Ministry of Communications may refer to:* Ministry of Communications * Ministry of Communications * Ministry of Communications * Ministry of Communications of Morocco...
. He then served as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce
Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce
The was a cabinet-level ministry in the government of the Empire of Japan from 1881-1925. It was briefly recreated as the during World War II-History:...
under the 2nd Katsura cabinet and was also chairman of the Japanese committee organizing the Japan–British Exhibition. He subsequently served as Home Minister
Home Ministry (Japan)
The ' was a Cabinet-level ministry established under the Meiji Constitution that managed the internal affairs of Empire of Japan from 1873-1947...
under the 3rd Katsura cabinet, and as both Minister of Agriculture and Trade and Home Minister under the 2nd Ōkuma administration
Okuma Shigenobu
Marquis ; was a statesman in the Empire of Japan and the 8th and 17th Prime Minister of Japan...
.
Ōura scandal
While in the Ōkuma administration, he was accused of perpetrating voting fraud in the Diet by bribing minor political party and undecided members to influence passage of a military spending bill introduced by Ōkuma. This incident came to be known as the Ōura scandalOura scandal
of 1915 was one of several spectacular political scandals of late Meiji and Taishō period Japanese politics.After the entry of Japan into World War I, the administration of Prime Minister Ōkuma Shigenobu had to report to the lower house of the Diet of Japan that expenditures had greatly exceeded...
; he was forced to retire, and eventually the Ōkuma administration itself was brought down.
Later life
In his final years, Ōura served as chairman of the Dai Nippon Butoku KaiDai Nippon Butoku Kai
is a Japanese martial arts organization established in 1895 in Kyoto, Japan, under the authority of the Ministry of Education and sanction of the Emperor Meiji. Its purpose, at that time, was to standardize martial disciplines and systems throughout Japan. This was the first official martial arts...
.
Ōura died in 1918 at the age of 68.