Prince was a Japanese Imperial court noble and statesman at the time of the Meiji Restoration. He held many high-ranking offices in the Meiji government.
Born in Kyoto, Sanjà  was the son of Naidaijin Sanjà  Sanetsumu. He held several important posts in Court and became a central figure in the anti-Western, anti-Tokugawa sonnà  jà Âi ("Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarian") movement.
When the coup d'état of 30 September 1863, brought the more moderate Aizu and Satsuma factions into power, he fled to Chà Âshà «. He returned to Kyoto after the resignation of shà Âgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu in 1867.
The first administrative offices (Sanshoku) of the Meiji government were established on 3 January 1868: the Sà Âsai (President), Gijà  (Administration) and San'yo (Office of Councilors). These offices were abolished on 11 June 1868, with the establishment of the Dajà Â-kan (Grand Council of State). In the new Meiji government, Sanjà  was head of the Gijo, Minister of the Right (å³大è£) (11 June 1868 â 15 August 1871), and Chancellor of the Realm (Dajà Â-daijin) (15 August 1871 â 22 December 1885).
Sanjà  was awarded Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum in 1882. On 7 July 1884, his title was changed to that of koshaku (prince) under the kazoku peerage system. Sanjà  served until the abolition of the dajà Âkan system in 1885. After the Cabinet system was established, he became Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan.
In 1889, when Prime Minister Kuroda Kiyotaka and his cabinet resigned en masse, Emperor Meiji only accepted Kuroda's resignation and formally invited Sanjà  to head the government. The Emperor refused to appoint a new prime minister for the next two months, making Sanjà  the only Prime Minister of Japan (albeit interim) who also concurrently held the post of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal.
In 1890, he assumed a seat in the new House of Peers in the Diet of Japan established by the Meiji Constitution. On his death in 1891, he was accorded a state funeral. His grave is at the temple of Gokoku-ji in Bunkyà Â, Tokyo.
From the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia
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