View source for Yamamoto Gonnohyōe

{{short description|Japanese admiral and prime minister (1852–1933)}}
{{distinguish|text=Admiral [[Isoroku Yamamoto]], the Pacific War Combined Fleet Commander-in-Chief}}
{{family name hatnote|Yamamoto|lang=Japanese}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| birth_name          = Yamamoto Gonbee
| native_name         = 山本　権兵衛
| honorific_prefix    = [[Admiral]] [[Count]]
| honorific_suffix    = [[GCMG]]
| image               = Gonbee Yamamoto later years.jpg
| office              = [[Prime Minister of Japan]]
| monarch             = [[Emperor Taishō|Taishō]]
| 1blankname          = [[Sesshō and Kampaku|Regent]]
| 1namedata           = [[Hirohito]]
| term_start          = 2 September 1923
| term_end            = 7 January 1924
| predecessor         = [[Uchida Kosai|Uchida Kōsai]] <small>(Acting)</small>
| successor           = [[Kiyoura Keigo]]
| monarch2            = [[Taishō]]
| term_start2         = 20 February 1913
| term_end2           = 16 April 1914
| predecessor2        = [[Katsura Tarō]]
| successor2          = [[Ōkuma Shigenobu]]
| office3             = [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]]
| term_start3         = 2 September 1923
| term_end3           = 19 September 1923
| primeminister3 = Himself
| predecessor3        = Uchida Kōsai
| successor3          = [[Ijūin Hikokichi]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1852|11|26|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Kagoshima]], [[Satsuma Domain]], Japan
| death_date          = 8 December 1933 (aged 81)
| death_place         = [[Tokyo]], [[Empire of Japan|Japan]]
| death_cause         = [[Benign prostatic hyperplasia]]
| restingplace        = [[Aoyama Cemetery]], Tokyo
| spouse              = Yamamoto Tokiko <small>(1860–1933)</small>
| signature           = YamamotoG kao.png
| party               = [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| allegiance          = {{flag|Empire of Japan}}
| branch              = {{naval|Empire of Japan}}
| serviceyears        = 1874–1914
| rank                = [[File:Imperial Japan-Navy-OF-9-collar.svg|30px]] [[Admiral]]
| battles             = [[Boshin War]]<br>[[First Sino-Japanese War]]<br>[[Russo-Japanese War]]
| awards              = [[Order of the Chrysanthemum]] <small>(Collar and Grand Cordon)</small><br>[[Order of the Golden Kite]] <small>(1st class)</small><br>[[Order of St Michael and St George]] <small>(Honorary Knight Grand Cross)</small>
| alma_mater          = [[Imperial Japanese Naval Academy]]
}}
{{nihongo|{{pre-nominal styles|pre-noms=[[Admiral]] [[Count]]}} '''Yamamoto Gonbee'''{{efn|{{IPA|ja|jamamoto ɡombeː}}}} {{post-nominals|post-noms=[[GCMG]]}}, also called '''Gonnohyōe'''{{efn|The name Gonnohyōe ({{IPA|ja|ɡonnoçoːe|IPA}}) was originally invented by a [[Shinto]] priest during a prayers at a ship launching ceremony which Yamamoto attended; he liked the profound sound of the name so much that he adopted it thereafter.}} |{{linktext|山本}} {{linktext|権兵衛}}|Yamamoto Gonbee/Gonnohyōe|extra= 26 November 1852{{spaced ndash}}8&nbsp;December 1933}}, was an admiral in the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] and twice [[Prime Minister of Japan]] from 1913 to 1914 and again from 1923 to 1924.

==Biography==
===Early life===
Yamamoto was born in [[Kagoshima]] in [[Satsuma Province]] (now [[Kagoshima Prefecture]]) as the sixth son of a [[samurai]] who served as a secretary and ''[[sōjutsu]]'' master of the [[Shimazu clan]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gibney |first=Frank |title=Buritanika Kokusai Daihyakkajiten |publisher=TBS-BRITANNICA |year=1995 |at=山本権兵衛 |oclc=55231838}}</ref> As a youth, he took part in the [[Anglo-Satsuma War]]. He later joined Satsuma's Eighth Rifle Troop in the [[Boshin War]] that ended the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], fighting at the [[Battle of Toba–Fushimi]] and other locations; he was also aboard one of the ships that pursued [[Enomoto Takeaki]] and the remnants of the Tokugawa fleet to [[Hokkaidō]] in 1869. After the success of the [[Meiji Restoration]], Yamamoto attended preparatory schools in [[Tokyo]] and entered the 2nd class of the [[Imperial Japanese Naval Academy]] in 1870. At the time of the [[Satsuma Rebellion]], he briefly returned to Kagoshima, but at the urging of [[Saigo Takamori]], he returned to the Naval Academy before the start of combat.

===Naval career===
[[File:Yamamoto Gonnohyoe bust portrait.jpg|thumb|left|Yamamoto Gonnohyoe]]
After graduation in 1874, Yamamoto went on a training cruise to [[Europe]] and [[South America]] aboard [[Imperial German Navy]] vessels from 1877 to 1878, and as junior officer acquired much sea experience. He wrote a gunnery manual that became the standard for the Imperial Japanese Navy and served as [[executive officer]] of the [[cruiser]] {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Naniwa||2}} on its shakedown voyage from [[Elswick, Tyne and Wear|Elswick]] to Japan (1885 to 1886). After serving as captain of the [[corvette]] {{ship|Japanese corvette|Amagi||2}}, he accompanied [[Ministry of the Navy of Japan|Navy Minister]] [[Kabayama Sukenori]] on a trip to the [[United States]] and Europe that lasted over a year (1887 to 1888).

As commander of the cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Takao|1888|2}}, he undertook a confidential mission to meet [[Qing Dynasty|Qing]] General [[Yuan Shikai]] in [[Seoul|Hanseong (Seoul)]], [[Korea]] (1890). Afterwards, he assumed command of the {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Takachiho||2}}.

Working under his patron, Navy Minister [[Saigō Tsugumichi]] from 1893, Yamamoto became the real leader of the navy; initiating numerous reforms, attempting to end favoritism toward officers of his own Satsuma province, attempting to end officers from profiteering from military office, and attempting to attain roughly equal status with the Army in the [[Supreme War Council (Japan)|Supreme War Council]]. He also pushed for an aggressive strategy towards the [[Qing Dynasty|Chinese Empire]] in the [[First Sino-Japanese War]] (1894–95). Yamamoto was promoted to [[rear admiral]] in 1895 and to [[vice admiral]] in 1898.

===As Minister of the Navy===
[[File:Admiral Yamamoto Gombei visiting Dalny.jpg|thumb|left|Japanese [[Ministry of the Navy of Japan#Ministers of the Navy of Japan|Minister of the Navy]], Admiral Baron Yamamoto visiting the captured city of [[Dalny]], just north of [[Lüshunkou|Port Arthur]] in December 1904.  Accompanying the Minister were several Western observers, including Italian naval attaché [[Ernesto Burzagli]] who photographed the inspection tour.]]
In November 1898, Yamamoto was appointed [[Ministry of the Navy of Japan|Navy Minister]] under the second [[Yamagata Aritomo]] administration. By this time, the [[Russian Empire]] was already perceived as the greatest threat to Japan, and Yamamoto advised the government that it was possible that Japan would win a conflict against Russia, albeit at the cost of more than half of the Imperial Japanese Navy. He sponsored promising junior officers a "brain trust", including [[Akiyama Saneyuki]] and [[Hirose Takeo]], whom he sent as [[naval attaché]]s to the United States, United Kingdom and Russia to gather intelligence and to make strategic assessments of capabilities. Domestically, he pushed for increased capacity and modernisation of shipyards and steel mills,  and for the increased import of higher quality coal from the United Kingdom to power his warships. Externally, he was a strong supporter of the [[Anglo-Japanese Alliance]]. As an indication of the increased independence and prestige of the Navy, Emperor Meiji appeared in naval uniform during a public appearance for the first time. Yamamoto was made [[baron]] (''danshaku'') under the ''[[kazoku]]'' peerage system in 1902; and he was promoted to the rank of [[admiral]] in 1904.

As Minister of the Navy during the [[Russo-Japanese War]], Yamamoto showed strong leadership and was responsible for appointing [[Tōgō Heihachirō]] as [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Combined Fleet]].  He gave voice to Tōgō's reports when he read aloud his reports from the war to the assembled Diet.<ref>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/03/30/118944582.pdf  "Article 6 – no title,"] ''New York Times.'' 30 March 1904.</ref>

Yamamoto was replaced as Navy Minister by [[Saito Makoto]] in January 1906. He was elevated to [[count]] (''hakushaku'') in 1907.

==As Prime Minister==
[[File:Gonbei Yamamoto suit.jpg|thumb|Yamamoto Gonnohyōe during his premiership]]
In February 1913, Yamamoto became [[Prime Minister of Japan]], succeeding [[Katsura Taro]] as leader of then [[Rikken Seiyukai]] political party. During Yamamoto's first term as the prime minister, he abolished the rule that both the [[Ministry of the Navy (Japan)|Navy Minister]] and [[Ministry of the Army (Japan)|Army Minister]] had to be active duty officers. This rule gave the military a stranglehold over the civilian government since the military could withdraw their minister and refuse to appoint a successor. Failure to fill the post would cause the existing cabinet to collapse.  Thus, Yamamoto gained a reputation for being a liberal and a supporter of public claims for [[democracy]] and [[constitutional government]]. However, his administration was plagued by charges of corruption and he was forced to resign with his entire cabinet in April 1914 to take responsibility for the [[Siemens scandal|Siemens-Vickers Naval Armaments scandal]], even though it was never proved that he was personally involved.

Under the succeeded Okuma administration, Yamamoto was transferred to naval reserves. During [[World War I]] and the subsequent disarmament treaty negotiations, he remained sidelined.

Yamamoto was recalled to government as Prime Minister again on 2 September 1923 in the emergency "earthquake cabinet" caused by the sudden death of Prime Minister [[Katō Tomosaburō]] immediately following the [[1923 Great Kantō earthquake|Great Kantō earthquake]]. He showed leadership in the restoration of Tokyo which had been heavily damaged by the earthquake. He also attempted to reform the electoral system to permit universal male [[suffrage]]. However, he and his cabinet were forced to resign again in January 1924, this time over the attempt by [[Namba Daisuke]] to assassinate [[Sessho|Prince Regent]] [[Hirohito]] on 27 December 1923 (the [[Toranomon Incident]]).

Subsequently, Yamamoto withdrew from political life completely. Suggestions that he be made one of the ''[[Genrō]]'' were vehemently opposed by his life-long political enemy, [[Saionji Kinmochi]], who also blocked all efforts for him to have a seat on the [[Privy Council (Japan)|Privy Council]]. In December 1933, nine months after the death of his wife, Yamamoto died of complication due to [[benign prostatic hyperplasia]] at his home in [[Takanawa]], Tokyo at the age of 82. His grave is at the [[Aoyama Cemetery]] in Tokyo.<ref>[http://www.sakanouenokumo.jp/photo/archives/2005/05/post_40.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425065433/http://www.sakanouenokumo.jp/photo/archives/2005/05/post_40.html|date=2012-04-25}} Sakanoue-no-kumo Photo archives (Japanese)</ref>

==Honors==
{{hatnote|Translated from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.{{date missing}}}}

===Peerages===
*Baron (27 February 1902) <ref>『官報』第5593号「叙任及辞令」February 28, 1902 </ref>
*Count (21 September 1907)<ref>『官報』第7272号「叙任及辞令」September 23, 1907 </ref>

===Japanese===
* 1887 – [[File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 6Class BAR.svg|50px|link=Order of the Rising Sun]] [[Order of the Rising Sun]], 6th class <ref>『官報』第1325号「叙任及辞令」November 28, 1887 </ref>
* 1895 – [[File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 6Class BAR.svg|50px|link=Order of the Rising Sun]] [[Order of the Rising Sun]], 4th class  <ref>『官報』第3644号「叙任及辞令」August 21, 1895 </ref>
* 1895 – [[File:JPN Kinshi-kunsho 4Class BAR.svg|50px|link=Order of the Golden Kite]] [[Order of the Golden Kite]], 4th class  <ref>『官報』第3644号「叙任及辞令」August 21, 1895 </ref>
* 1900 – [[File:JPN Zuiho-sho (WW2) 2Class BAR.svg|50px|link=Order of the Sacred Treasure]] [[Order of the Sacred Treasure]], 2nd class<ref>『官報』第5098号「叙任及辞令」July 2, 1900 </ref>
* 1901 – [[File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg|50px|link=Order of the Rising Sun]] Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun<ref>『官報』第5548号「叙任及辞令」December 28, 1901 </ref>
* 1906 – [[File:JPN Kinshi-kunsho 1Class BAR.svg|50px|link=Order of the Golden Kite]] [[Order of the Golden Kite]], 1st class  <ref>『官報』号外「叙任及辞令」January 28, 1907 </ref>
* 1906 – [[File:JPN Toka-sho BAR.svg|50px|link= Order of the Paulownia Flowers]] Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers<ref><『官報』号外「叙任及辞令」January 28, 1907 </ref>
* 1928 – [[File:JPN Daikun'i kikkasho BAR.svg|50px|link= Order of the Chrysanthemum]] [[Order of the Chrysanthemum]]<ref>『官報』号外「叙任及辞令」November 10, 1928 </ref>
* 1930 – [[File:JPN Daikun'i kikkasho BAR.svg|50px|link= Order of the Chrysanthemum]] Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum<ref>『官報』号外「叙任及辞令」December 12, 1933 </ref>

===Foreign===
* 1900 – [[File:PRU Roter Adlerorden BAR.svg|50px|link=Order of the Red Eagle]] - Prussia - [[Order of the Red Eagle]], 1st class<ref>『官報』第5005号「叙任及辞令」March 12, 1900</ref>
* 1900 – [[File:Legion Honneur GO ribbon.svg|50px|link=Legion of Honour]] - France - [[Legion of Honour]], Grand officier<ref>『官報』第5328号「叙任及辞令」April 11, 1901</ref>
* 1907 – [[File:Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg|50px|link=Legion of Honour]] - France - [[Legion of Honour]], Grand Croix<ref name="au">『官報』第7284号「叙任及辞令」October 8, 1907</ref>
* 1907 – [[File:PRU Roter Adlerorden BAR.svg|50px|link=Order of the Red Eagle]] - Prussia - [[Order of the Red Eagle]], Grand Cross<ref name="au"/>
* 1907 – [[File:UK Order St-Michael St-George ribbon.svg|50px|link=Legion of Honour]] - UK -  [[Order of St Michael and St George]], Knight Grand Cross (GCMG).<ref name="au"/><ref>London Gazette: [http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=28019 on the occasion of Prince Fushimi Sadanaru's visit to England]{{Dead link|date=December 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book |last = Dupuy |first = Trevor N. |year = 1992 |title = Encyclopedia of Military Biography |publisher = I B Tauris & Co Ltd |isbn = 1-85043-569-3 |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofmi0000dupu }}
*{{cite book|last = Schencking |first = J. Charles |year = 2005|title = Making Waves: Politics, Propaganda, And The Emergence Of The Imperial Japanese Navy, 1868–1922 |publisher = [[Stanford University Press]] |isbn = 0-8047-4977-9}}
*{{cite book|last = Sims|first = Richard|year = 2005|title = Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation 1868–2000|publisher = [[Palgrave Macmillan]]|isbn = 0-312-23915-7}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Gonbee Yamamoto|Yamamoto Gonnohyōe}}
*[http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=28019 London Gazette Issue 28019]{{Dead link|date=December 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Navboxes
|title=Career
|list1=
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Saigō Tsugumichi]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of the Navy of Japan|Minister of the Navy]]|years=8 November 1898 – 7 January 1906}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Saitō Makoto]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Katsura Tarō]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Japan]]|years=20 February 1913 – 16 April 1914}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ōkuma Shigenobu]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Uchida Kosai|Uchida Kōsai]]}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|[[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]}}|years=September 1923 – September 1923}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ijuin Hikokichi]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Uchida Kosai|Uchida Kōsai]]<br><small>Acting</small>}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Japan]]|years= 2 September 1923 –7 January 1924}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kiyoura Keigo]]}}
{{s-end}}
}}
{{IJN}}
{{Prime Ministers of Japan}}


{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamamoto, Gonnohyoe}}
[[Category:1852 births]]
[[Category:1933 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century prime ministers of Japan]]
[[Category:Imperial Japanese Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Kazoku]]
[[Category:Boshin War]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Golden Kite, 1st class]]
[[Category:Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers]]
[[Category:People from Kagoshima]]
[[Category:People from Satsuma Domain]]
[[Category:People of Meiji-period Japan]]
[[Category:People of the Boshin War]]
[[Category:Japanese military personnel of the First Sino-Japanese War]]
[[Category:Japanese people of the Russo-Japanese War]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Japan]]
[[Category:Ministers of the Imperial Japanese Navy]]
[[Category:Samurai]]
[[Category:Shimazu retainers]]
[[Category:Burials at Aoyama Cemetery]]
[[Category:Imperial Japanese Naval Academy alumni]]