寺内 正毅(1852―1919)
長州藩の武士の出身。大阪兵学校に学ぶ。
西南の役に出陣し田原坂の戦いで右腕を負傷したが、現役に残り、参謀本部第一局長など軍職を歴任した。
明治三十四年(1901)第一次桂内閣の陸軍大臣に就任し、十年にわたってそのポストを占めた。軍の経費節減を果たすなど、行政手腕を発揮した。
陸相のまま、初代朝鮮総督にも就任した。大正五年(1916)内閣総理大臣に就任し、政党を無視して官僚中心の内閣を組織し、大正デモクラシーの時代に波紋を投げかけた。
寺内は頭がとがったビリケン人形に似ているところから「ビリケン」と呼ばれたが、政党人たちは、それをもじって「非立憲内閣」と批難した。しかし自ら「超然内閣」と称し、 独特の政治的姿勢を堅持した。
大正八年(1919)逝去。
享年六十八。
Terauchi Masatake (1852―1919)
He was born into a samurai family from Choshu Domain. He studied at Osaka Heigakko (Osaka Military Academy). He participated in the Seinan War and was wounded in the Battle of Tabaruzaka, but he remained in active service and held various military positions, including Chief Staff of the General Staff Office. In 1901(the 34th of the Meiji era), he became Minister of the Army in the first Katsura Cabinet and held that post for ten years. He achieved cost savings in the military
budget and demonstrated administrative skills. While serving as Minister of the Army, he also became the first Governor-General of Korea. In 1916 (the 5th year of Taisho era), he became Prime Minister of Japan and formed a cabinet dominated by bureaucrats, disregarding political parties, which caused controversy during the era of Taisho Democracy.
Teranishi was known for his resemblance to the sharp-headed Billiken doll, earning him the nickname "Billiken." However, political opponents coined the term "Hirikken Cabinet" as a play on words, criticizing his cabinet for being "unconstitutional." Despite this, he referred to his cabinet as the "Chozen Cabinet" and maintained a distinctive political stance. He passed away in 1919 (the 8th year of Taisho era) at the age of 68.