Vice Minister of Finance in 1871 and was influential in reorganizing government finances on modern lines, especially in the reform of the land tax system, termination of government stipends to the ex-samurai and former aristocracy and for promoting industrialization. Closely linked to business circles, including the emerging Mitsui zaibatsu, he was also involved in the railway business. These measures created many political enemies, and Inoue was forced to resign in May 1873. Inoue took part in the Osaka Conference of 1875 to support the creation of a representative national assembly. In 1876, Inoue was asked to assist in the field of foreign affairs, and was involved in the conclusion of the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1876 as vice-ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. He returned to government as Minister of Public Works in 1878 and Lord of Foreign Affairs in 1879 under the early Meiji Dajō-kan Cabinet. In 1884, he was elevated to the rank of count (hakushaku) under the new kazoku peerage system. In December 1885, Inoue officially became Japan's first Minister of Foreign Affairs bearing that title in the first Itō Hirobumi cabinet. However, Inoue came under public criticism for his failure to negotiate a revision of the unequal treaties, his building of the Rokumeikan, and support of its Westernizing influences, which forced him to resign in August 1887. Later he served as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in the Kuroda administration, as Home Minister in the second Itō administration and again as Finance Minister in the 3rd Itō administration. From 1901 onwards, Inoue served as most senior of the genrō, and considered himself the government's foremost advisor on financial affairs. He was advanced to the title of marquis (kōshaku) in 1907, and died in 1915 at his summer home at Okitsu-juku, Shizuoka prefecture. Honours From the article in the Japanese Wikipedia Japanese Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (February 10, 1879) Count (July 7, 1884) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers (October 7, 1895) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (April 1, 1906) Marquess (September 21, 1907) Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (September 1, 1915; posthumous) Foreign Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG) (February 20, 1906) Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour of France See also List of Ambassadors from Japan to South Korea References Further reading Akamatsu,