From his birth in the lowest stratum of the samurai class to his assassination at the hands of right-wing militarists, Takahashi Korekiyo (1854-1936) lived through tumultuous times that shaped the course of modern Japanese history. Takahashi is considered "Japan's Keynes" in many circles because of the forward-thinking (and controversial) fiscal and monetary policies--including deficit financing, currency devaluation, and lower interest rates--that he implemented to help Japan rebound from the Great Depression and move toward a modern economy.

Richard J. Smethurst's engaging biography underscores the profound influence of the seven-time finance minister on the political and economic development of Japan by casting new light on Takahashi's unusual background, unique talents, and singular experiences as a charismatic and cosmopolitan financial statesman.

Along with the many fascinating personal episodes--such as working as a houseboy in California and running a silver mine in the Andes--that molded Takahashi and his thinking, the book also highlights four major aspects of Takahashi's life: his unorthodox self-education, his two decades of service at the highest levels of government, his pathbreaking economic and political policies before and during the Depression, and his efforts to stem the rising tide of militarism in the 1930s. Deftly weaving together archival sources, personal correspondence, and historical analysis, Smethurst's study paints an intimate portrait of a key figure in the history of modern Japan.

Contents
		Introduction	1
1		A Remarkable Beginning, 1854-67	 9
2		Takahashi in San Francisco, 1867-68	24
3		Many Mentors, Few Teachers: 
		Takahashi's Career in and out of Government, 1869-81	41
4		Japan's First Trademark and Patent Laws, 1881-89	60
5		Maeda Masana and the Debate over Industrial Policy, 1882-85	79
6		Managing a Silver Mine in Peru, 1889-90	96
7		Entering the Bank of Japan, 1892-1904	115
8		Fundraising during the Russo-Japanese War: 1904	141
9		Fundraising during the Russo-Japanese War: 1905	166
10		The Lessons of Wars, 1906-18	188
11		Taisho Democracy, 1918-27	214
12		"Japan's Keynes": Japan and the World Depression, 1929-34	238
13		Takahashi's Fiscal Policies and the Rise of Militarism, 1932-36	268
		Conclusion: Takahashi's Economic Philosophy and its Roots	299
		Appendix: Takahashi's Memoirs	307
Reference Matter
		Notes	311
		Works Cited	335
		Index	345