Editing Terauchi Masatake (section)

==Military career==
Terauchi Masatake was born in Hirai Village, [[Suo Province]] (present-day [[Yamaguchi (city)|Yamaguchi city]], [[Yamaguchi Prefecture]]), and was the third son of Utada Masasuke, a [[samurai]] in the service of [[Chōshū Domain]]. He was later adopted by a relative on his mother's side of the family, Terauchi Kanuemon, and changed his family name to "Terauchi".

As a youth, he was a member of the [[Kiheitai]] militia from 1864, and fought in the [[Boshin War]] against the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] from 1867, most notably at the [[Battle of Hakodate]]. After the victory at Hakodate, he travelled to [[Kyoto]], where he joined the [[Ministry of War (pre-modern Japan)|Ministry of War]] and was drilled by French instructors in Western weaponry and tactics. He became a member of [[Emperor Meiji]]'s personal guard in 1870 and travelled with the Emperor to [[Tokyo]]. He left military service in 1871 to pursue language studies, but was recalled with the formation  the fledgling [[Imperial Japanese Army]] in 1871 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant after attending the Army's Toyama School. He was appointed to the staff of the new [[Imperial Japanese Army Academy]] in 1873. He fought in the [[Satsuma Rebellion]] in 1877 and was injured and lost his right hand during the [[Battle of Tabaruzaka]]. His [[physical disability]] did not prove to be an impediment to his future military and political career.

In 1882, he was sent to France as [[aide-de-camp]] to [[Prince Kan'in Kotohito]] and was appointed a  [[military attaché]] the following year. He remained in France for studies until 1886. On his return to Japan, he was appointed deputy secretary to the Minister of the Army. In 1887, he became commandant of the Army Academy. In 1891, he was chief of staff to the [[IJA 1st Division]] and in 1892 was Chief of the First Bureau (Operations) of the [[Imperial Japanese Army General Staff]].

With the start of the [[First Sino-Japanese War]] in 1894, Terauchi was appointed Secretary of Transportation and Communication for the [[Imperial General Headquarters]], which made him responsible for all movement of troops and supplies during the war. In 1896, he was assigned command of the IJA 3rd Infantry Brigade.  In 1898, he was promoted to become the first [[Inspectorate General of Military Training|Inspector General of Military Training]], which he made one of the three highest positions in the army. In 1900, he became Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, and went to China to personally oversee Japanese force during the [[Boxer Rebellion]]