# Katsura Tarō

> Japanese general and politician (1848–1913)

**Wikidata**: [Q159048](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q159048)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsura_Tarō)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/katsura-taro

## Summary
Katsura Tarō was a Japanese general and politician who lived from 1848 to 1913. He is best known for his service as a prominent military leader and statesman in the Empire of Japan, distinguishing himself in conflicts such as the Boshin War and the First Sino-Japanese War, and later engaging in significant diplomatic agreements like the Taft–Katsura Agreement.

## Biography
- **Born**: January 4, 1848
- **Died**: October 10, 1913
- **Nationality**: Japan
- **Occupations**: General (Military Personnel), Politician
- **Known for**: Leadership in the Meiji-era military and government; signing the Taft–Katsura Agreement.
- **Employer(s)**: Takushoku University
- **Political Affiliation**: Rikken Dōshikai

## Contributions
Katsura Tarō's career was defined by extensive military and political service. He actively participated in key military conflicts that shaped modern Japan, including the Boshin War (1868–1869), the Second Chōshū expedition (1866), and the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895). In the realm of international relations, he was instrumental in the Taft–Katsura Agreement of 1905, a pivotal diplomatic memorandum between Japan and the United States that defined their respective spheres of influence in Korea and the Philippines. Domestically, he was affiliated with the Rikken Dōshikai political party, which was founded in late 1913.

## FAQs
**What military conflicts was Katsura Tarō involved in?**
Katsura Tarō served in the Boshin War (1868–1869), the Second Chōshū expedition in 1866, and the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895).

**What was the Taft–Katsura Agreement?**
The Taft–Katsura Agreement was a 1905 agreement between Japan and the United States regarding the extent of their spheres of influence, specifically concerning Korea and the Philippines.

**What political party was Katsura Tarō affiliated with?**
He was affiliated with the Rikken Dōshikai, a political party in Japan established on December 23, 1913.

**What awards did Katsura Tarō receive?**
He received numerous honors including the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers (1st class), the Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia), the Order of the White Eagle (Russian Empire), and the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (France).

## Why They Matter
Katsura Tarō matters as a central figure in the establishment of modern Japan's military and political structure. His involvement in the Boshin War and the Second Chōshū expedition helped secure the defeat of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule. His leadership during the First Sino-Japanese War solidified Japan's emergence as a regional power. Furthermore, the Taft–Katsura Agreement remains a significant historical diplomatic event, marking a moment of mutual recognition between Japanese and American interests in East Asia. His association with the Rikken Dōshikai highlights his role in the evolving political landscape of the Meiji and Taishō eras.

## Notable For
- Serving as a general in the Imperial Japanese Army.
- Participation in the Boshin War and Second Chōshū expedition.
- Receiving the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, Japan's highest order of chivalry.
- Being a recipient of the Order of the Black Eagle (Kingdom of Prussia) and the Order of the White Eagle (Russian Empire).
- Serving as a key figure in the Taft–Katsura Agreement of 1905.
- Affiliation with Takushoku University.

## Body
### Early Life and Identity
Katsura Tarō was born on January 4, 1848. He was a Japanese national and a human entity identified in various knowledge bases. His names and aliases include Katsura Taro and Katsura Tarou, with the Japanese written form being 桂太郎. He died on October 10, 1913.

### Military Career
Katsura Tarō served as military personnel, holding the rank of general. His military engagements were pivotal to Japanese history:
- **Second Chōshū expedition (1866)**: He participated in this conflict where the Tokugawa shogunate was defeated.
- **Boshin War (1868–1869)**: He served in this civil war fought in Japan.
- **First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)**: He was involved in this war between the Qing dynasty and the Empire of Japan, fought chiefly in Joseon.

### Political and Diplomatic Career
As a politician, Katsura Tarō was affiliated with the **Rikken Dōshikai**, a political party headquartered in Tokyo (inception: December 23, 1913). A defining moment of his diplomatic career was the **Taft–Katsura Agreement** in 1905. This agreement with the United States outlined the extent of Japanese and American spheres of influence, specifically regarding Korea and the Philippines.

### Academic and Organizational Affiliations
Katsura Tarō was employed by or affiliated with **Takushoku University**, a Japanese private university established in 1900.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his life, Katsura Tarō received a multitude of prestigious domestic and international awards:
- **Japan**:
    - Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (inception: 1888).
    - Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (inception: 1876).
    - Order of the Paulownia Flowers (inception: 1888).
    - Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers, 1st class (abolished order, inception: 1888).
- **International**:
    - Order of the Black Eagle (highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia, inception: 1701).
    - Order of the White Eagle (military decoration of the Russian Empire, inception: 1831).
    - Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (fourth rank of the French Legion of Honour).

### Structured Data and Identifiers
Katsura Tarō is extensively documented in knowledge graphs with the following properties:
- **Wikidata**: Q ID not explicitly listed, but structured properties include P18 (image: Prince Katsura Tarō.jpg), P109 (signature: KatsuraT kao.png), and P569/P570 (birth/death dates).
- **Identifiers**: VIAF ID 890041, ISNI 000000008191033X, Library of Congress authority ID n83302498.
- **Conflict History**: Linked to conflicts Q309184, Q711793, and Q178687 in structured data.
- **Occupation**: Defined as Q82955 (politician) and Q47064 (military personnel).

## References

1. [Source](https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/rekidai/ichiran.html)
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013