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Okuma Shigenobu (16
February
1838 -
10 January
1922) was a Japanese politican and
Prime Minister.
He was the 8th (June
30,
1898 -
November 8,
1898) and 17th (April
16,
1914 -
October 9,
1916)
Prime Minister.
He was born in the province of
Hizen ill in
1838, which is now
Saga prefecture. His father was an officer in the
artillery, and during his early years his education consisted mainly of
the study of
Chinese literature. Happily for him, however, he was able to acquire in
his youth a knowledge of English and Dutch, and by the help of some
missionaries he succeeded in obtaining books in those languages on both
scientific and political subjects. These works effected a complete
revolution in his mind. He had been designed by his parents for the military
profession, but the new light which now broke in upon him determined him to
devote his entire energies to the abolition of the existing
feudal system and to the establishment of a
constitutional government. With
impetuous zeal he urged his views on his countrymen, and though he took no
active part.
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