Editing Kuroda Kiyotaka (section)

===Political and diplomatic career===
[[File:Kiyotaka Kuroda 2.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Kiyotaka Kuroda at a young age]]
[[File:KurodaNagahiro.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Marquess [[Kuroda Nagahiro]] of [[Fukuoka Domain]]. Kuroda Kiyotaka received supports from [[Fukuoka Domain]] which later proved their critical roles in Kuroda's political career.]]
Under the new [[Meiji government]], Kuroda in 1870 became a pioneer-diplomat to [[Sakhalin]], then known in Japanese as Karafuto and claimed by both Japan and the [[Russian Empire]]. Terrified of Russia's push eastward, Kuroda returned to Tokyo and advocated quick development and settlement of Japan's northern frontier.

In 1871, he traveled to [[Europe]] and the [[United States]] for five months, and upon returning to Japan in 1872, he was put in charge of colonization efforts in [[Hokkaidō]].

In 1874, Kuroda was named director of the [[Hokkaidō Colonization Office]], and organized a colonist-militia scheme to settle the island with unemployed ex-samurai and retired soldiers who would serve as both farmers and as a local militia. He was also promoted to [[lieutenant general]] in the [[Imperial Japanese Army]]. Kuroda invited [[o-yatoi gaikokujin|agricultural experts from overseas countries]] with a similar climate to visit Hokkaidō, and to provide advice on what crops and production methods might be successful.

Kuroda was dispatched as an envoy to [[Korea]] in 1875, and negotiated the [[Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876]]. In 1877, he was sent as part of the force to suppress the [[Satsuma Rebellion]]. In 1878, he became de facto leader of Satsuma Domain following the assassination of [[Ōkubo Toshimichi]].

Shortly before he left office in Hokkaidō, Kuroda became the central figure in the Hokkaidō Colonization Office Scandal of 1881. As part of the government's privatization program, Kuroda attempted to sell the assets of the Hokkaidō Colonization Office to a trading consortium created by some of his former Satsuma colleagues for a nominal price. When the terms of the sale were leaked to the press, the resultant public outrage caused the sale to fall through. Also in 1881, Kuroda's wife died of a [[lung disease]], but on rumors that Kuroda had killed her in a drunken rage, the body was exhumed and examined. Kuroda was cleared of charges, but rumors of his problems with [[alcoholism|alcohol abuse]] persisted.
[[File:Imperial Japanese Navy in Pusan 16 Jan 1876.png|thumb|The embassy of Kuroda Kiyotaka, in [[Pusan]], on its way to [[Ganghwa Island]] (江華島), Korea, 16 January 1876. There were 2 warships ({{ship|Japanese warship| Nisshin||2}}, {{ship|Japanese warship|Moshun||2}} and 3 troop transports of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]], and one liner for the embassy led by Kuroda.]]

In 1887, Kuroda was appointed to the cabinet post of [[Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce|Minister of Agriculture and Commerce]].