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Portrait of Ito Hirobumi (伊藤博文, 1841 – 1909). Photo by Unknown Author.

Top 10 Sensational Facts about Ito Hirobumi

Ito Hirobumi was a Japanese politician and statesman in Japan. He served as the first prime minister of Japan. Ito was also a leading member of the genro. This was a group of statesmen who dictated Japanese policy during the Meiji era.

Ito was born on October 16^th, 1841 in Tsukari, Kumage in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture. He was the eldest son of Hayashi Juzo and Kotoko. During his early age, Ito did many things. He even attended samurai classes and became ashigaru. He died on October 26^th, 1909.

Ito Hirobumi is the delegate who negotiated a treaty in Korea that turned Korea into a Japanese protectorate. He was also part of the people who developed the first constitution of Japan. He was very determined to modernize Korea. He left a huge footprint in Japan. Here are the top 10 sensational facts about Ito Hirobumi.

1. He chaired the committee that established the firsts constitution of Japan

Japanese statesman Hirobumi Itō (伊藤博文) in Korea, 1905-1906. Photo by The Fuzanbo Publishing Co. Tokyo, Japan.

Ito Hirobumi chaired the committee that drafted the first constitution for the newly formed Empire of Japan. He was keen to reject the United States model of the constitution for being too liberal. On the other hand, the Spanish restoration was also too despotic.

Ito, therefore, looked for inspiration from the British and German models. He specifically drew a lot from the Prussian Constitution of 1850. He replaced the religious references in that constitution with the Japanese traditional concept of kokutai. Kokutai translates to national polity.

2. He had a large influence on Japan’s policies

Ito Hirobumi was the permanent imperial adviser and the president of the Emperor’s privy council. He was a staunch monarchist. He favored an all-powerful bureaucracy that answered to the Emperor only.

He also opposed the formation of political parties. He wielded so much power over Japan. Many decisions had to be passed through him for approval.

3. He strengthened diplomatic ties with Western countries

Ito was keen to improve Japan by forming ties with countries like Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He oversaw the First Sini-Japanese war in Asia. He also negotiated the surrender of China’s ruling Qing dynasty on terms that favored Japan. This included the release of Korea from the Chinese Imperial tribute system.

4. He was the first prime minister of Japan

Ito Hirobumi was the first prime minister of Japan. This happened on 22^nd December 1885. He resigned on 30^th April 1888. His second term as a prime minister began on 8^th August 1892 to 31^st August 1896.

During this tenure, he supported the first Sino-Japanese war. Hirobumi negotiated the Treaty of Shimonoseki in March 1895. He also removed an unequal clause in the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation in 1894.

His third term as prime minister began on 12^th January to 30^th June 1898. This was during the rise of political parties. He returned to office for the 4^th term from October 19^th, 1900 to 10^th May 1901. He is the longest-serving prime minister.

5. He was the first resident-general of Korea

Portrait of Ito Hirobumi (伊藤博文, 1841 – 1909) in full dress. Photo by Unknown Author.

The Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905 was made between the Empire of Japan and the Empire of Korea in November 1905. This was after the Russo-Japanese War. Kora was thereby made a protectorate of Japan.

After the treaty had been signed, Ito became the first Resident-General of Korea on 21^st December 1905. He worked out a way by which Japan got full authority to dictate Korea’s internal affairs.

6. He was assassinated by a Korean nationalist

On 26^th October 1909, Ito arrived at the Harbin railway station for a meeting with Vladimir Kokovstov. Vladimir was a Russian representative in Manchuria. While he was there, An Jung-geun fired six shots of which 3 them hit Ito’s chest.

He died shortly thereafter. Jung-geun was a Korean nationalist and an independence activist. Ito’s body was returned to Japan on the Imperial Japanese Navy cruiser Akitsushima. He was accorded a state funeral.

7. His portrait was on the Series C 1,000 yen note

From 1963 to 1984, a portrait of Ito Hirobumi was on the obverse of the Series C 1,000 yen note. The text on the paper banknote reads ‘Nippon Gingko’. On the backside of this old 1,000-yen note is the Bank of Japan building. The image was imprinted to honor the diplomat and statesman Ito Hirobumi.

8. Ito Hirobumi has been portrayed in Korean cinema

Villa of Ito Hirobumi. Photo by そらみみ. .

Ito has been portrayed severally in Korean cinema. His assassination was the subject of North Korea’s An Jung-gun Shoots Ito Hirobumi in 1979 and South Korea’s Thomas Ahn Joong Keun in 2004.

Both films made his assassin An Jung-geun the protagonist in the films. The 1973 South Koran film Femme Fatale: Bae Jeong-ja is a biopic of Ito’s adopted Korean daughter Bae Jeong-ja.

9. There is a temple dedicated to Ito

The Japanese unveiled the Hakubun-ji Buddhist temple dedicated to Prince Ito on October 26^th, 1932. The temple is called Prince Ito Memorial Temple. It is located in Jangchugdan Park.

10. He had birthmarks on his face

Former residence of Ito Hirobumi. Photo by そらみみ. .

Ito Hirobumi had medium sized beard and bushy eyebrows. He had two birthmarks on his face. These were considered to bring good luck to a person throughout their lives. His eyes were brown with a dose of domination and mental stability in them. 

besides being a politcian, he loved reading classic Japan literature. he was also a good gardener and had a beautiful garden at his home.