ABSTRACT
When Matsukata’s death in June 1924 left Saionji as the last of the Genro, the question of whether to appoint one or more new Genro or to extend the Imperial question at times of cabinet change to others outside the Genro group (a topic which had been under discussion since before Yamagata’s death) acquired new urgency. In particular, sporadic efforts had been made by and on behalf of the President of the Privy Council, Kiyoura Keigo, and Admiral Yamamoto Gombei but these had been consistently opposed by Saionji and the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. Both Saionji and the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal were against the creation of any new Genro and it was agreed between the two senior advisors to the throne that Saionji would henceforth take sole responsibility for recommending the prime minister. Such a move blocked one avenue of political control to wider factional influence, but did not resolve the problem of how the cabinet would be recommended after the last Genro had died. The picture at the Court was further complicated at this time by Hirata’s ill health and his desire to retire from the post of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. The problem of finding a suitable successor, without allowing the Satsuma faction to extend its influence into the heart of the Court, was one which troubled both men.
