Enkichi Ōki

{{Short description|Japanese politician}}

File:Enkichi Oki.jpg

Count {{nihongo|Enkichi Ōki |大木 遠吉| Ōki Enkichi|extra=September 19, 1871 – February 14, 1926}} was a Japanese statesman in the Taishō period.

Ōki was born in Tokyo. His father, Ōki Takatō was one of the leaders in the Meiji Restoration, and served in numerous cabinet posts in the early Meiji government. In 1899, Enkichi succeeded to his father’s title of count (hakushaku) under the kazoku peerage system. His political career began in 1908, when he was elected to the House of Peers. He initially supported the Kenkyūkai, but soon switched his allegiance to the Rikken Seiyūkai. He was appointed Justice Minister under the cabinet of Prime Minister Hara, a post which he also held under the succeeding Takahashi administration.[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A03E0DF1539EF3ABC4B52DFB0668389639EDE] The New York Times, June 13, 1922 In 1923, he cooperated with Home Minister Tokonami Takejirō to introduce tightened anti-subversive legislature in response to increasing leftist agitation in the labor disputes, and the public emergence of the Japan Communist Party.Minichiello. Japan's Competing Modernities. Page 11 Ōki was subsequently Railroad Minister under the Katō and Kiyoura administrations.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121026054624/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,717428,00.html?iid=chix-sphere] Time January 14, 1924