yamagata

English - English

Definition of yamagata in English English dictionary

a prefecture in Japan

a Japanese surname

a city in Japan

Related Terms

Yamagata Aritomo

born Aug. 3, 1838, Hagi, Japan died Feb 1, 1922, Tokyo First prime minister under Japan's parliamentary regime (1889-91, 1898-1900). As a samurai youth in Chsh province, Yamagata was among those who answered the foreign threat with the slogan "Sonn ji" ("Revere the emperor, expel the barbarians"). In 1864 Western gunboats bombarded the Chshu coast, convincing him of the need for modern armaments. After participating in the Meiji Restoration, he went abroad to research military institutions, returning to become commander of an imperial force of 10,000 troops. When he introduced conscription, bearing arms ceased to be the exclusive prerogative of a warrior class. His forces defeated Saig Takamori's rebellion in 1877. In politics he was more conservative than his contemporary It Hirobumi, favouring a strong executive. As prime minister, his policies were expansionist; Japan sent the largest of all foreign forces to China to quell the Boxer Rebellion. He increased the autonomy of the military and tried to suppress an incipient social-labour movement. After retirement, he continued to wield power as a genro (elder statesman). See also Meiji Constitution; Meiji period

Hyphenation

Ya·ma·ga·ta

Turkish pronunciation

yämägätı

Pronunciation

/yämäˈgätə/ /jɑːmɑːˈɡɑːtə/