Aoki Shūzō

Foreign minister (first)

While foreign minister, he strove for the revision of the unequal treaties between the Empire of Japan and the various European powers, particularly the extraterritoriality clauses, and expressed concern over the eastern expansion of the Russian Empire into east Asia. Aoki was forced to resign as a consequence of the Ōtsu Incident of 1891, but resumed his post as Foreign Minister under the Matsukata administration.

During his time as minister, Viscount Aoki was instrumental in the development of the internal program for Transfers of technology and advice on systems and cultural ways. By the hand of Aoki, over a dozen of specialized western professionals were brought to Japan in 1887, not only at a governmental level but also into the private sector. Amongst these so called "O-yatoi gaikokujin" were prominent figures including W. K. Burton, Ottmar von Mohl, Albert Favre Zanuti, Henry Spencer Palmer, Hermann Ende, Wilhelm Böckmann, Rudolf Dittrich and Ludwig Riess.

Ambassador to the United Kingdom

In 1894, as ambassador to Great Britain, Aoki worked with Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu towards the revision of the unequal treaties, successfully concluding the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation for Japan in London on 16 July 1894.

Foreign minister (second)

Returned to his post as foreign minister under the second Yamagata administration, Aoki helped Japan gain recognition as one of the Great Powers by its military support of the European forces during the Boxer Rebellion.

Aoki was then appointed to the Privy Council and elevated in title to shishaku (viscount).^[2]

Ambassador to the United States

In 1906, he was appointed ambassador to the United States.^[3] In 1908, Aoki protested to President Theodore Roosevelt to stop racial hostility against Japanese immigrants in California, there were anti-Asian groups and bills that discriminated against the Japanese, which included segregation of Japanese children in schools.^[4] Californians did not want Japanese immigrants to dominate the state's agricultural economy, as the Japanese bought their own land and refused to work for white Californians. Aoki negotiated with Roosevelt and reached an agreement to restrict passports, deport some Japanese, and withdraw anti-alien bills. Although this did not stop the immigration of the Japanese or future discriminatory legislation, it did reduce diplomatic hostility.^[5]

Descendants

Through his daughter, he was a grandfather of Countess Hissa Elisabeth Natalie Olga Ilsa von Hatzfeldt zu Trachenberg (26 February 1906 – 4 June 1985), who married Count Maria Erwin Joseph Sidonius Benediktus Franziskus von Sales Petrus Friedrich Ignatius Hubertus Johannes von Nepomuk Felix Maurus von Neipperg (a great-grandson of Austrian general Adam Albert von Neipperg) in Munich in 1927. Erwin and Hissa had four children, but now extinct in the male line. Hissa's daughter Countess Maria Hedwig Gabrielle Nathalie Benedicta Lioba Laurentia von Neipperg (born 10 August 1929) married Sir Anthony Williams, the British ambassador to Argentina during the Falklands War.

Morihisa Aoki (born 23 November 1938), Japanese ambassador to Peru during the Japanese embassy hostage crisis was his adopted great-grandson.

Aoki villa

In 1888 Aoki commissioned an architect and friend from Berlin times, Matsugasaki Tsumunaga (1858–1921), to build him a villa as resort in Nasu highlands. This villa was costly restored in recent years and entered the list of Important Cultural Properties of Japan.^[8] Matsugasaki won Aoki as first president of the newly established Society of Japanese Architects in 1888.^[9]

Japanese

Decorations

More information Year awarded, Ribbon ...

Year awarded	Ribbon	Decoration	Notes
6 February 1878		Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class[11]
27 March 1880		Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class[11]
25 November 1889		Imperial Constitution Promulgation Medal[15]
30 June 1890		Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st Class[16]
29 August 1894		Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun[17]
1 August 1912		Korean Annexation Commemorative Medal[18]
26 September 1913		Imperial Cup with the Royal Crest[19]
16 February 1914		Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers[14]	(posthumous)

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Foreign

More information Year awarded, Country ...

Year awarded	Country	Ribbon	Decoration	Notes
26 February 1879	Kingdom of Saxony		Grand Cross of the Albert Order[20]	[a]
21 December 1880	German Empire		Order of the Crown, Knight 1st Class[21][22]	[b]
21 December 1882	Netherlands		Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion[23]	[c]
21 December 1882	Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach		Grand Cross of the White Falcon[23]	[d]
25 December 1885	German Empire		Order of the Red Eagle, Knight 1st Class[24]	[e]
25 December 1885	Saxe-Coburg-Gotha		Grand Cross of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order[24]
25 December 1885	Mecklenburg		Grand Cross of the Griffon[24]
27 September 1887	Kingdom of Portugal		Grand Cross of the Order of Christ[25]
21 February 1888	Kingdom of Siam		Knight Grand Cross of the Crown[26]
7 May 1889	Russian Empire		Order of Saint Anna, 1st class[27]
27 May 1891	Ottoman Empire		Order of the Medjidie, 1st Class[28]
17 August 1895	German Empire		Grand Cross of the Red Eagle[29][30]	[f]
17 August 1895	Kingdom of Bavaria		Order of St. Michael, Knight 1st Class[29][30]	[g]
17 August 1895	Ottoman Empire		Order of Osmanieh, 1st Class[29]
4 October 1897	German Empire		Grand Cross of the Red Eagle in Brilliants[31][32]	[h]
22 July 1902	Denmark		Grand Cross of the Dannebrog[33]

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