baron

"Marquess Ōkuma Shigenobu (大隈 重信?, 11 March 1838 – 10 January 1922); was a Japanese politician in the Empire of Japan and the 8th (30 June 1898 – 8 November 1898) and 17th (16 April 1914 – 9 October 1916) Prime Minister of Japan. Ōkuma was also an early advocate of Western science and culture in Japan, and founder of Waseda University."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuma_Shigenobu

Other photos of him:

"Viscount Ishii Kikujirō (石井 菊次郎?, April 24, 1866 – May 25, 1945), was a Japanese diplomat and cabinet minister in Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa period Japan. He served as Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Japan between 1915 and 1916."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishii_Kikujir%C5%8D

See also

Thanks for the additional information B-59. We will add their full names to the catalog record.

Admiral Dewa: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewa_Shiget%C5%8D

Taken at same sitting as

The Manley, Australia Library blog has an article detailing the highlights of Seizo Kobayashi's career in Japan: " [...] Kobayashi (1877-1962) had an extraordinary career. He visited Australia several times. In 1912, he served on the Royal Navy ship HMS Collingwood as an attache. During WWI, he was awarded the US Navy Cross, for his actions in support of the Allied fleet. After WWI he represented Japan on the committee for disposal of enemy vessels, and no doubt saw to it that Japan received her share of Germany's naval fleet. He returned to Sydney in 1928 commanding the Idzumo, and hosted the NSW Premier, T R Bavin, to a dinner on board. He inspected the guard of honour at Government House. Clearly, he would have spoken English fluently, and the succession of diplomatic postings he undertook may well have had a deeper espionage role. Kobayashi rose to become an Admiral in the First Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was a Rear-Admiral during the Japanese campaign in Manchuria. From September 1936 to November 1940, he was the Governor-General of Formosa (now Taiwan), where it is reported that he carried out a policy of 'Japanization'. He must have had blood on his hands. It must have been rare indeed for a Japanese combatant facing the US forces in WWII to have been decorated by them in WWI. Kobayashi resigned his post of Admiral in early 1945, and attempted to lead a group of officers of uncompromising bent, the Imperial Rule Assistance Political Society, hoping to persuade the Emperor not to surrender. The defeat of Japan put an end to his political hopes." manlylocalstudies.blogspot.com/search?q=kobayashi

what a fascinating person, thanks for the photo and the links.

Patricia Sahertian You're welcome! Glad you like it/him... :)

William Gibson was my partner's great-uncle - we have a tapestry showing his life story, made by his wife: www.flickr.com/photos/nicdafis/19105403

Lord Ashbourne was one of the participants at the Irish Race Congress in 1922.