During World war I, the Japanese government was greatly influenced by Foreign Minister Kato Takaaki and Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu who would later be succeeded by Prime Minister Terauchi Masatake before the end of the war
Foreign Minister Kato Takaaki Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu Prime Minister Terauchi Masatake
Japan joined the Entente powers, which consisted of Russia, Great Britain, and France. At the beginning of the war, Japan proposed to join its ally, the British, if they were allowed to take German pacific territories. Britain would allow this if the Japanese would assist in destroying German Navy Raiders around Chinese waters. Japan would send Germany an ultimatum to avoid this bloodshed, but it would be unanswered. Japan would officially declare war on Germany on August 23, 1914. Japan would also declare war on Germany's ally, Austria-Hungary on August 25, 1914. The reason Japan joined this war was for it to become more recognized as a great power in postwar geopolitics and to increase its sphere of influence in China.