Prime Minister
Matsukata followed Yamagata Aritomo as Prime Minister from 6 May 1891 – 8 August 1892, and followed Ito Hirobumi as Prime Minister from 18 September 1896 – 12 January 1898, during which times he concurrently also held office as finance minister.
One issue of his term in office was the Black Ocean Society, which operated with the support of certain powerful figures in the government and in return was powerful enough to demand concessions from the government. They demanded and received promises of a strong foreign policy from the 1892 Matsukata Cabinet.
Matsukata successively held offices as president of the Japanese Red Cross Society, privy councillor, gijokan, member of the House of Peers, and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan. Later, he was given the title of prince and genrō.
Read more about this topic: Matsukata Masayoshi
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