Japanese diplomat
Baron was a Japanese diplomat and ambassador to the United States from 1900 to 1909.
Biography.
Takahira was born in what is now Ichinoseki city, Iwate prefecture. From relatively modest beginnings, Takahira was to become a graduate of "Kaisei Gakkō" (the predecessor to Tokyo Imperial University).
Career diplomat.
In 1876, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His first posting to the United States in 1879 was as an attaché; and he was promoted to secretary in 1881. During a return to Asia, he served briefly as "chargé d'affaires" in Korea and as Consul General in Shanghai, China. In 1887, he returned to the United States as Consul General in New York City.
Postings in Europe as Minister-Resident to Netherlands and Denmark, and as Minister Plenipotentiary at Rome, Vienna and Bern spanned the years before his 1901 return to Washington, D.C. He then continued as Japan's minister in the United States from 1901 through 1905.
Takahira participated in a number of important Japanese-US negotiations. Takahira was one of the principals of the Japanese delegation negotiating with the Russians to conclude the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the Russo-Japanese War.
In 1907, Takahira was named Ambassador to Rome. The Foreign Ministry called him back to Washington, D.C. in 1908-1909.
As principal negotiator for Japan, his name is commemorated in the 1908 Root-Takahira Agreement, which was intended to ease Japanese-US tension by defining each nation's role in the Pacific arena and China.
Takahira later elevated to "danshaku" (baron) under the "kazoku" peerage system, and was appointed to the House of Peers, and subsequently served on the Privy Council.
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