Uchida was born in what is now
Yatsushiro,
Kumamoto Prefecture, as the son of the domain's doctor. After studying
English for two years at
Doshisha University, Uchida moved to
Tokyo Imperial University, graduating from its law school. After graduation, Uchida entered the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and served as ambassador to
Qing dynasty China, then as ambassador to
Austria-Hungary, and then to the
United States. He served as
Japanese foreign minister from 1911 to 1912 under the 2nd
Saionji Kinmochi administration. Appointed as ambassador to the
Empire of Russia just before the
Bolshevik Revolution, Uchida returned to Japan to serve as Foreign Minister again from 1918 to 1923 under the
Hara,
Takahashi, and
Katō administrations. He served as acting
Prime Minister of Japan twice – once after the assassination of Prime Minister Hara, and again after the sudden death of Prime Minister Katō, immediately before the
Great Kantō earthquake. He was appointed to the
House of Peers in the
Diet of Japan in 1930, and became President of the
South Manchuria Railway company in 1931. In addition to being appointed Prime Minister on 26 May 1932,
Saitō Makoto was also appointed to be interim Foreign Minister following the assassination of
Inukai Tsuyoshi. Saitō offered the position of Foreign Minister to Uchida. Under his third term, Uchida called for the formal
diplomatic recognition of
Manchukuo, and later called for Japan's withdrawal from the
League of Nations. He was featured on the cover of
Time, 5 September 1932 edition, which also contained an article on his stance vis-à-vis the League of Nations. He died of illness 15 days after the
26 February Incident. His grave is at the Tama Reien at Fuchu, Tokyo. ==In popular culture==