Matsui Keishirō facts for kids
Matsui Keishirō (Japanese: 松井慶四郎, born March 28, 1868 – died June 4, 1946) was an important Japanese diplomat and politician. He worked for Japan during the Showa period and later became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations, helping to build good relationships.
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Who Was Matsui Keishirō?
Matsui Keishirō was a key figure in Japan's international relations. He spent many years working in different countries. His job was to represent Japan and help solve problems peacefully. He later took on a very important role as Japan's top diplomat.
Early Life and Education
Matsui Keishirō was born in 1868. He was a very bright student. In 1889, he graduated from the Law School of Tokyo Imperial University. This was a top university in Japan. Right after graduating, he joined the Foreign Ministry. This is the government department that handles a country's relationships with other nations.
His Diplomatic Career
Matsui Keishirō's career as a diplomat took him all over the world. He started working in different Japanese embassies. An embassy is like an official office for a country in a foreign land.
- In 1890, he worked at the Japanese embassy in Seoul, which is now the capital of South Korea.
- By 1895, he was sent to the United States.
- He also served in London, the capital of the United Kingdom.
- Later, in 1902, he was assigned to Beijing, the capital of China.
He returned to Japan in 1913 after many years abroad.
Ambassador During World War I
During World War I, Matsui Keishirō took on a very important role. From November 1915, he served as the Japanese Ambassador to France. An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat representing their country in another nation. His job was to maintain good relations between Japan and France during the war.
When his mission in France ended, he received a special honor. He was given the title of baron (danshaku). This was part of the kazoku peerage system, which was a system of noble titles in Japan.
Serving as Foreign Minister
After his time as an ambassador, Matsui Keishirō took on an even bigger role in Japan. He became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This means he was in charge of all of Japan's foreign policy. He served in this position from January 7 to June 11, 1924. He worked under the government led by Kiyoura Keigo. As Foreign Minister, he helped guide Japan's relationships with countries around the world.
