Ito, Hirobumi

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Ito, Hirobumi (1841–1909) Japanese statesman. The leading figure in the modernization of Japan after the Meiji Restoration (1868), he served in several government posts and took part in the Iwakura Mission (1871–73) to study Western governments. After the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05), he headed the Japanese administration in what was then the protectorate of Korea. He was assassinated by a Korean nationalist.

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