Tomosaburo Kato

During the Russo-Japanese War in the Sea of Japan, Kato served as the chief of staff of the Combined Fleet and was the second most important person in the fleet. He was an artillery expert, and the proper use of Japanese naval artillery was an important factor in the victory. He died on August 24, 1923, at the age of 62. He was named Viscount, Grand Marshal of Chrysanthemum and Grand Marshal.

When it comes to the heroes of the Japanese-Russian naval battle in the Sea of Japan, everyone will think of the commander of the Joint Fleet, Hirahachiro Togo. There is no doubt that this naval battle decided the outcome of the Russo-Japanese War. It is because of Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War that Japan has become a world-class country and attracted the attention of all countries. Therefore, Togo is known as the God of War. After his death, he was given a state funeral by the emperor. He was one of the few soldiers who were included in high school textbooks. But Tomosaburo Kato, who worked closely with Togo on the same warship, is probably forgotten. Kato was the chief of staff of the Joint Fleet at that time and was the second most important person in the fleet. He was an artillery expert. The proper use of Japanese naval artillery was an important factor in the victory. It can be seen that Kato played an important role in Japan's victory in the Sea

He was also one of the most important figures in the navy after Yamamoto. For four years, from January 1906 to December 1909, he served as undersecretary of the navy. From then on, he served as or concurrently as First Lord of the Admiralty for seven years and ten months, beginning with the Second Okuma Cabinet and continuing through his five Cabinet terms as Prime Minister. He served as First Lord for the second time in history after Saito Minami. During his tenure, he devoted himself to building the "88th Fleet" consisting of eight battleships and eight cruisers.

It was at the Washington Disarmament Conference from 1921 to 1922. Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France concluded a naval disarmament treaty at the conference, which stipulated that the total tonnage of Japanese capital ships and aircraft carriers must be limited to 60% of that of the United States. In addition, they also concluded treaties on submarines, poison gas development, treaties on China, treaties on Pacific territories, territorial treaties, etc. Japan and the United States concluded a treaty on the entrusted rule of islands in the Pacific north of the equator, and a treaty between Japan and China on the settlement of the Shandong issue. Kato attended the Washington Disarmament Conference as a plenipotentiary. At that time, Prime Minister Hara Kato rejected the doubt that "Kato, as the Minister of the Navy, could not reduce his mother-navy", believing that only by selecting a powerful figure from the Navy, Yuzaburo Kato, could persuade the Navy to accept the treaty. Kato realized that an arms build-up would impose a financial burden on the government, and as a result, Britain and France would take advantage of it, so he did an excellent job of completing the task assigned by Harahito.

The outcome of the meeting formed the international order in the Asia-Pacific region known as the "Washington System", which also became the driving force for Kato to become prime minister. After Harahara was assassinated, Takahashi took over as prime minister in the Qing Dynasty. Later, he resigned due to internal disagreements on the issue of cabinet reorganization. Senator Masahiro Matsukata discussed with Keigo Kiyoura, President of the Privy Council, and received the approval of Nishionji Temple, who was bedridden, and Kato was recommended as the successor prime minister. Disputes within the Political Friends Association have given the elders a sense of crisis and mistrust of the political party. On the other hand, in anticipation of resistance from the Navy for disarmament, appointing Tomobaburo Kato, who has served as Navy Secretary for four terms in the cabinet and has high prestige in the Navy, as prime minister is a foolproof plan. Moreover, Kato is the chief representative of the Washington Conference and head of disarmament affairs, so it is natural for him to serve as prime minister.

However, it was later learned that the power would be handed over to Tomosaburo Kato, and even if Tomosaburo Kato refused to accept the appointment, Takashi Kato, president of the Constitutional Council, would take over. After realizing that the political power would no longer belong to its own party, the Zhengyou Association began to approach Yuzaburo Kato. Against the background of the elders 'mistrust of political parties, all cabinet members in Tomobaburo Kato's cabinet except for the three positions of land, sea and foreign minister were selected from the House of Lords Research Association and Dating Club. Since no cabinet members were selected from the House of Representatives, the Political Friends Association only expressed cooperation outside the cabinet. From this point of view, Tomobaburo Kato's cabinet is completely a bureaucratic cabinet that is aloof from the political party. Since many of the cabinet members were promoted from vice-ministers, this cabinet is also called the "cleanup cabinet" and the "officials cabinet." Since the Kato cabinet is not a political party cabinet, it is not highly evaluated by all walks of life.

This cabinet adopts policies that are coordinated with the Washington system, and this is done in a context of the times. Governments had to rectify their finances in order to cope with the post-World War I economic downturn. To do this, disarmament was inevitable and policies must be adopted that people could see with their own eyes and easily understand. In July, less than a month after the establishment of the cabinet, the government launched a disarmament policy and announced that it would abandon the Navy's plan to build the "8th Fleet"; abandon the construction of 14 warships; suspend the construction of six warships; reduce the Navy's personnel of 7,500 corporals and above; and fire 14,000 related workers. The Army also carried out large-scale disarmament, cutting a total of 60,000 people from the 12th to the 14th year of the Taizheng period. After Japan sent troops to Siberia, only Japan was still stationed there. Due to domestic public opinion opposition and financial difficulties, Japan had withdrawn all troops except those stationed in Huatai by December of this year. Since Tomosaburo Kato was a prime minister who came from the military, a series of policies were relatively easy to implement, and fiscal rectification was successful. If we look at it from another perspective, it can be said that the policies adopted by the Kato cabinet are quite clear. Most of the cabinet members have served as deputy officials and have the ability to carry out transactional work.

The current cabinet also passed the jury law, which has been pending since Hara-kei's cabinet. Although this bill did not achieve much, it shows the characteristics of the Taisho democratic era in terms of allowing ordinary people to participate in trials, and has far-reaching significance. The Kato Tomosaburo cabinet has no plans to hold a general election immediately, so it established the House Election Law Investigation Committee under the direct jurisdiction of the cabinet. It can be said that this is entirely due to the continuous outbreak of demonstrations and protests in various places calling for the adoption of universal suffrage. Kato Tomosaburo made a gesture in response to the public opinion demanding the adoption of universal suffrage. In 1922, the Communist Party of Japan was established in an illegal situation. In June of the following year, there was an incident to arrest Jieyulihiko and other Communist Party members (the first Communist Party incident). In addition, calls for the abolition of business taxes continue to grow louder. At that time, Japan was in the "Taisho Democratic Era" of economic stagnation, and various ideological trends and movements were constantly emerging.

During the Sea of Japan War, he had to talk to his subordinates through the door in the toilet several times. At the beginning of the establishment of the cabinet, Yuzaburo Kato's face was blue and white, and he was nicknamed "Prime Minister of Remnant Candles", which means that candles that were lit during the Russo-Japanese War were taken and burned again. Six months later, Kato was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, which was so severe that he could not attend the opening ceremony of the Imperial Parliament during his reign. The news of his cancer was not told to himself or his cabinet members. On July 27, 1923, after the last cabinet meeting, Kato Yuzaburo collapsed and died on August 24, ending his 62-year career.

The outcome of the Washington meeting determined the status of Prime Minister Tomosaburo Kato and his tasks. If he were in better health and personally selected his cabinet colleagues, Kato's cabinet should be a cabinet capable of playing a strong political role.