IWAKURA, Tomomf, Prince (1835-83). A Japanese statesman, born in Kioto, of one of the illustrious families of the great Minamoto (q.v.) clan. He became a Chamber lain in the Imperial household of the Mikado Komei (1847-66), father of the present Emperor. Mutsuhito (q.v.). He was one of the 88 out of the total number of 136 kugel. or Court nobles. who opposed the opening of the ports to foreign commerce. In the ebb and flow of the troubled polities of the time, I•5kura fell into disgrace and was banished. Later lie became the agent and firm ally of the revolutionary leaders, and was the means of carrying through the palace revolution of January. 1868. by which the men in the progressive party got possession of the person of the Emperor and reconstructed the Government. In this lwfikura became one of the highest officers, and thenceforth one of the chief progressive leaders of the Empire, carrying through the abolition of the feudal system with vigor and wisdom. He never saw a. foreigner
until middle life: yet as Minister of Foreign. Affairs he proved himself a match for the for eign envoys, and in 1872 led the great embassy to the treaty powers of the world to secure if pos sible some modification of the treaties with them. On his return he opposed the proposed war with Korea, and carried through the measure which commuted the hereditary pensions of the samurai (q.v.), by which the Treasury was relieved of heavy financial burdens and the nation enabled to enter upon a new phase of development. On the night of January 14, 1873, an attempt was Earle by nine assassins to kill him, hilt he escaped. tie rent:lived the Mikado's chiet coun cilor until his death. His son, Prince lwAkura •ontosada, became one of the chief officers of the Court.