Count Hayashi Tadasu (1850-1913) studied in England with Kikuchi Dairoku at University College School, 1866-68, being one of fourteen young Japanese sent by the Tokugawa shogunate. He returned on the eve of the abolition of the shogunate, and followed Enomoto Takeaki when the latter, sailing with the Tokugawa fleet to Yezo, attempted to establish a republic there in defiance of the newly organized government of the Emperor Meiji. Thrown into prison on account of this affair, Hayashi did not obtain office until 1871.

He accompanied the Iwakura mission to Europe and the United States in 1871-73. Thereafter he rose rapidly, until, after a long period of service as vice-minister of foreign affairs, he was appointed to represent his country first in Peking, then in St Petersburg and finally in London.

As minister to Britain from 1900 he worked to bring about the Anglo-Japanese alliance and signed it for Japan on January 30, 1902 in London. On December 2, 1905 Hayashi became the first Japanese ambassador to the Court of St James, as diplomatic relations were upgraded. At that time Sir Claude MacDonald was Hayashi's opposite number in Tokyo.

On becoming foreign minister in Saionji Kimmochi's cabinet in 1906, Hayashi concluded agreements with France and Russia. He served as minister of communications in the second Saionji cabinet (1911-12).

See also

• Anglo-Japanese relations
• Henry Petty-FitzMaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne - who signed the Anglo-Japanese alliance of January 1902 for Britain

External Links

• Portrait of Hayashi Tadasu on the website of the National Diet Library, Tokyo