Okuma Shigenobu

Okuma Shigenobu

(born March 11, 1838, Saga, Japan—died Jan. 10, 1922, Tokyo) Japanese politician of the Meiji period who twice served as prime minister. His initial contribution to the new government was to oversee the reorganization of Japan's fiscal system. Later, after making radical proposals for a new Japanese constitution and exposing corruption in proposed sales of government property, he was forced out of government. In 1882 he formed the Rikken Kaishinto (“Progressive Party”), which favoured English parliamentary government. With Itagaki Taisuke he created a new party in 1898, the Kenseito (“Constitutional Party”). They formed a short-lived government with Okuma as prime minister. Okuma's second tenure as prime minister (1914–16) was more successful. He is also remembered as the founder of Waseda University (1882). See also Meiji Constitution.