Two paragraphs of the Introduction of a book titled "JAPAN AT WAR AND PEACE - Shidehara Kijūrō and the Making of Modern Diplomacy":

"Shidehara was undoubtedly one of Japan’s most important diplomatic figures. Along with Mutsu Munemitsu (1844–1897) and Komura Jutarō (1855–1911), he is considered one of the representative foreign ministers of the nation’s modern era. Even in the twentieth century as a whole, only diplomatic figures like Yoshida Shigeru (1878–1967) or Shigemitsu Mamoru (1887–1957) made comparable contributions. Today, ‘Mutsu diplomacy’ has become a household term. Yet, it was Shidehara who was the first to have his name associated with a particular form of diplomacy—‘Shidehara diplomacy’. Such is the extent to which he drew both praise and censure.

Shidehara’s diplomatic career began in the era of the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05). After an initial posting to Incheon, followed by Busan and London, Shidehara served as the vice-minister for foreign affairs and then as Japan’s ambassador to the United States. From 1924 to 1927, as well as from 1929 to 1931, Shidehara served as foreign minister, and his policies were commonly referred to as ‘Shidehara diplomacy’. Although he left office following the Manchurian Incident (1931), he served as prime minister during the US occupation of Japan, working to preserve the emperor system as well as helping draft the new constitution. Shidehara also appeared in court during the International Military Tribunal for the Far East or the Tokyo Trial. At the time of his death in 1951, he was serving as the speaker of the House of Representatives."

JAPAN AT WAR AND PEACE - Shidehara Kijūrō and the Making of Modern Diplomacy (Hattori)