Takaaki Kato

Born Jan. 3, 1860 and died Jan. 28, 1926. Kato served as Japan's 24th prime minister, from June 11, 1924 to Jan. 28, 1926. When serving as foreign minister in the cabinet of Shigenobu Okuma in January 1915, Kato sent the so-called ''21 demands'' to China, arousing fierce opposition both at home and abroad over Japan's attempt to secure hegemony over China. Kato's cabinet achieved the passage of the Universal Manhood Suffrage Law in April 1925, which granted the vote to all male citizens over the age of 25.