Changes

Itô became the first prime minister of the modern state of Japan in [[1885]], when the cabinet system was established. Among his many activities in that position was participation in diplomatic negotiations with [[Li Hongzhang]] which managed, in the end, to avoid war with China in the 1880s, or depending on one's perspective, to at least delay the outbreak of conflict until the mid-1890s.

Itô became the first prime minister of the modern state of Japan in [[1885]], when the cabinet system was established. Among his many activities in that position was participation in diplomatic negotiations with [[Li Hongzhang]] which managed, in the end, to avoid war with China in the 1880s, or depending on one's perspective, to at least delay the outbreak of conflict until the mid-1890s.

In [[1895]], he was among the main Japanese representatives at the negotiation and signing of the [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]] which ended the [[Sino-Japanese War]].

In [[1895]], he was among the main Japanese representatives at the negotiation and signing of the [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]] which ended the [[Sino-Japanese War]]. Later that decade, he became the head of the Survey Bureau for Imperial Household Institutions (''Teishitsu seido chôsakyoku''), and played an influential role in creating or shaping various Imperial customs, practices, and rituals. Judging from his speeches, he seems to have been cleanly aware that the Bureau, and other government arms, were not simply reviving or restoring, but actually ''inventing'', Imperial tradition, national ceremony, and so forth, for the new, modern, Imperial Japanese nation-state.<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', University of California Press (1998), 23.</ref>

In [[1900]], he founded the [[Seiyukai|Seiyûkai]] political party. [[Sadayakko]], often cited as Japan's first actress in the modern mode, was among his mistresses.

In [[1900]], Itô founded the [[Seiyukai|Seiyûkai]] political party. [[Sadayakko]], often cited as Japan's first actress in the modern mode, was among his mistresses.

Itô became the first [[Governor-General]] of the Japanese protectorate of [[Colonial Korea|Korea]] in [[1905]],<ref>Mark Peattie, ''The Japanese Colonial Empire'', Princeton University Press (1984), 17.</ref> remaining in that position until he was killed by Korean activist [[An Jung-geun]] in [[1909]].

Itô became the first [[Governor-General]] of the Japanese protectorate of [[Colonial Korea|Korea]] in [[1905]],<ref>Mark Peattie, ''The Japanese Colonial Empire'', Princeton University Press (1984), 17.</ref> remaining in that position until he was killed by Korean activist [[An Jung-geun]] in [[1909]].