Toshimichi Ōkubo holds the position of Minister of the Interior in Japan's Meiji government, standing as one of the three great nobles of the Meiji Restoration. His substantial political influence shapes the nation during its transformative era, with responsibilities focused on overseeing domestic affairs and ensuring stability within the newly established government framework.
Ōkubo's historical actions include suppressing armed resistance against the Meiji government, notably quelling the 1874 Saga Rebellion led by disaffected samurai and former officials challenging central authority. Following this suppression, he authorized the execution of rebellion leader Etō Shinpei and ordered the public display of Shinpei's head, a decisive measure to assert governmental control and discourage future insurrections.
On May 14, 1878, Ōkubo faced assassination while traveling through Tokyo. Discontented samurai from Satsuma ambushed and killed him as retribution for his role in crushing samurai-led uprisings, particularly the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion. This assassination highlights the intense political tensions and factional conflicts that defined the early Meiji period.