Takahashi Korekiyo

Takahashi Korekiyo
高橋 是清
Prime Minister of Japan
In office
13 November 1921  12 June 1922
MonarchTaishō
RegentHirohito
Preceded byUchida Kōsai (acting)
Succeeded byKatō Tomosaburō
President of the Rikken Seiyūkai
In office
13 November 1921  10 April 1925
Preceded byHara Takashi
Succeeded byTanaka Giichi
Ministerial offices
Minister of Finance
In office
27 November 1934  26 February 1936
Prime MinisterKeisuke Okada
Preceded bySadanobu Fujii
Succeeded byMachida Chūji
In office
13 December 1931  8 July 1934
Prime MinisterInukai Tsuyoshi
Saitō Makoto
Preceded byJunnosuke Inoue
Succeeded bySadanobu Fujii
In office
20 April 1927  2 June 1927
Prime MinisterTanaka Giichi
Preceded byKataoka Naoharu
Succeeded byChūzō Mitsuchi
In office
29 September 1918  12 June 1922
Prime MinisterHara Takashi
Himself
Preceded byKazue Shōda
Succeeded byOtohiko Ichiki
In office
20 February 1913  16 April 1914
Prime MinisterYamamoto Gonnohyōe
Preceded byWakatsuki Reijirō
Succeeded byWakatsuki Reijirō
Acting Prime Minister of Japan
In office
15 May 1932  26 May 1932
MonarchHirohito
Preceded byInukai Tsuyoshi
Succeeded bySaitō Makoto
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
In office
1 April 1925  17 April 1925
Prime MinisterKatō Takaaki
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOkazaki Kunisuke
Minister of Commerce and Industry
In office
1 April 1925  17 April 1925
Prime MinisterKatō Takaaki
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byNoda Utarō
Minister of Agriculture and Commerce
In office
11 June 1924  1 April 1925
Prime MinisterKatō Takaaki
Preceded byMaeda Toshisada
Succeeded byTatsunosuke Yamazaki (1943)
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
10 May 1924  21 January 1928
Preceded byUmatarō Ōya
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
ConstituencyIwate 1st
Member of the House of Peers
In office
29 January 1905  24 March 1924
Nominated by the Emperor
Personal details
Born(1854-07-27)27 July 1854
Edo, Musashi, Japan
Died26 February 1936(1936-02-26) (aged 81)
Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan
Manner of deathAssassination (gunshot wound)
Resting placeTama Reien Cemetery, Tokyo
Political partyRikken Seiyūkai
Spouse
Takahashi Shina
(m. 1890)
Signature

Viscount Takahashi Korekiyo (高橋 是清; 27 July 1854 – 26 February 1936) was a Japanese politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1921 to 1922 and Minister of Finance when he was assassinated. He was also a member of the House of Peers and head of the Bank of Japan.

Takahashi made many contributions to Japan's development during the early 20th century, including introducing its first patent system and securing foreign financing for the Russo-Japanese War. Following the onset of the Great Depression, he introduced controversial financial policies which included abandoning the gold standard, lowering interest rates, and using the Bank of Japan to finance deficit spending by the central government. His decision to cut government spending in 1935 led to unrest within the Japanese military, who assassinated him in February 1936. Takahashi's policies are credited for pulling Japan out of the Depression, but led to soaring inflation following his assassination, as Takahashi's successors became highly reluctant to cut off funding to the government.