Tomomi Iwakura, a Japanese statesman, born in Kioto about 1825. He is a Kuge or court noble of the Murakami branch of the Minamoto family, and was a leader as well as the instrument of the conspiracy which effected the Kioto coup d'etat of Jan. 3, 1868, overthrowing the shogunate, and establishing a government in which his class held the chief offices. (See Japan-, vol. ix., p. 546.) In August, 1871, he was made minister of foreign affairs, and was active in the abolition of the feudal system and the retirement of the ex-daimios to private life. In December he left Japan as chief of the embassy which visited the United States and the principal capitals of Europe. On his return in September, 1873, he was made junior prime minister, which office he now holds (1876). He was active in averting the threatened war with Corea in 1873. He has been especially distinguished for his advocacy of the introduction of the forms and improvements of western civilization, and he sent his sons to the United States to be educated.

On the night of Jan. 14, 1874, while he was in his carriage near the mikado's palace, an attempt was made to assassinate him, but he escaped with several severe wounds.