Takashi Hara

Born Feb. 9, 1856 in Iwate Prefecture, died Nov. 4, 1921. Hara, who served as Japan's 19th prime minister, from 1918 to 1921, is recognized as one of the main architects of party government in modern Japan. As leader of the political party Rikken Seiyukai, Hara formed Japan's first cabinet in which the head of the majority bloc in the lower house of the Diet became prime minister. He was fatally stabbed by a young ultrarightist in Tokyo Station on Nov. 4, 1921 while on his way to a regional party rally.