Prince Itō Hirobumi was a Japanese politician and statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of Japan. He was also a leading member of the genrō, a group of senior statesmen that dictated Japanese policy during the Meiji era. He was born as Hayashi Risuke, also known as Hirofumi, Hakubun, and briefly during his youth as Itō Shunsuke.
Itō Hirobumi in 1909
Itō Hirobumi as a samurai in his youth
Photo of Itō (second from right--standing) alongside other members of the Iwakura mission
Itō Hirobumi as prime minister (c. 1880s)
The prime minister of Japan is the head of government and the highest political position of Japan. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet of Japan and has the ability to select and dismiss its ministers of state. The prime minister also serves as the commander-in-chief of the Japan Self Defence Forces and is a sitting member of either house of the National Diet. The current prime minister is Fumio Kishida of the Liberal Democratic Party, who assumed the office on 4 October 2021.
Prime Minister of Japan
Itō Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan
Kantei, the Prime Minister's Official Residence
Toyota Century