Jutarō Komura

Jutarō Komura was born in Obi in 1855 and studied at the domain school before receiving a government scholarship to Harvard in 1875. He first worked in the Justice Ministry and as a judge, then moved into the Foreign Ministry’s translation and political departments. Service as vice foreign minister and as minister abroad preceded his rise to foreign minister. ¹

In Washington, Komura explained the practical consequences of Japan’s revised treaties as they took effect in 1899. An interview at the legation described two linked changes: foreign residents would come under Japanese courts, while access to residence and trade would expand beyond the old treaty ports. He presented the change as recognition of Japanese sovereignty. ²

As foreign minister, Komura promoted the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and led Japan’s delegation to the Portsmouth negotiations in 1905, with Kogorō Takahira as his fellow plenipotentiary. The resulting treaty ended the Russo-Japanese War, recognized Japanese predominance in Korea, and transferred Russian interests in southern Manchuria and southern Sakhalin to Japan under specified conditions. ^{3, 4}

The settlement required further negotiations with China. In December 1905 Komura and Yasuya Uchida signed the Beijing treaty obtaining Chinese consent to the transfer of Russian leasehold and railway rights. Its accompanying agreement expanded Japanese railway and commercial privileges in Manchuria. ⁵

Komura subsequently served as ambassador to Britain and returned to the Foreign Ministry in 1908. In 1911 his ministry completed the treaty revisions that restored Japan’s tariff autonomy. He died in November of that year. ^{1, 3}