Shigeyasu Tokunaga (徳永重康) (1874–1940) was a Japanese zoologist, geologist, and palaeontologist. His family name by…Shigeyasu Tokunaga (徳永重康) (1874–1940) was a Japanese zoologist, geologist, and palaeontologist. His family name by birth was Yoshiwara (吉原) and some of his papers were published under this name.
Jirō Minami (南 次郎, Minami Jirō; 10 August 1874 – 5 December 1955) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and…Jirō Minami (南 次郎, Minami Jirō; 10 August 1874 – 5 December 1955) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and Governor-General of Korea between 1936 and 1942. He was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Kurushima Takehiko (久留島 武彦; June 19, 1874 – June 27, 1960) was a children's literature author known as "the Japanese…Kurushima Takehiko (久留島 武彦; June 19, 1874 – June 27, 1960) was a children's literature author known as "the Japanese Hans Christian Andersen". He was one of the three great Japanese authors of children's stories for public performance. One of Takehiko's most celebrated works is the nursery rhyme "Yūyake Koyake".
Uchiyama Gudō (内山 愚童; May 17, 1874 – January 24, 1911) was a Sōtō Zen Buddhist priest and anarcho-socialist activist…Uchiyama Gudō (内山 愚童; May 17, 1874 – January 24, 1911) was a Sōtō Zen Buddhist priest and anarcho-socialist activist executed in the High Treason Incident. He was one of few Buddhist leaders who spoke out against the Meiji government in its imperialist projects. Gudō was an outspoken advocate for redistributive land reform, overturning the Meiji emperor system, encouraging conscripts to desert en masse and advancing democratic rights for all. He criticized Zen leaders who claimed that low social position was justified by karma and who sold abbotships to the highest bidder.
Kinjiro Nagai (Japanese: 永井金次郎; 3 May 1874 – 3 April 1927) was the director of the Karafuto Agency (17 April 1919 – 11…Kinjiro Nagai (Japanese: 永井金次郎; 3 May 1874 – 3 April 1927) was the director of the Karafuto Agency (17 April 1919 – 11 June 1924). He was also the mayor of Otaru and Governor of Kōchi Prefecture (1913–1914).
Jōtarō Watanabe (渡辺 錠太郎, Watanabe Jōtarō; April 16, 1874 – February 26, 1936) was a general in the early Shōwa period…Jōtarō Watanabe (渡辺 錠太郎, Watanabe Jōtarō; April 16, 1874 – February 26, 1936) was a general in the early Shōwa period Imperial Japanese Army, noted as one of the victims of the February 26 Incident.
Umetaro Suzuki (鈴木 梅太郎, Suzuki Umetarō; April 7, 1874 – September 20, 1943) was a Japanese scientist, born in what is…Umetaro Suzuki (鈴木 梅太郎, Suzuki Umetarō; April 7, 1874 – September 20, 1943) was a Japanese scientist, born in what is now part of Makinohara, Shizuoka, Japan. He was a member of the Imperial Academy, and a recipient of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure and the Order of Culture. His research was among the earliest of modern vitamin research.
Nobuyasu Satō (Japanese: 佐藤 信安, Satō Nobuyasu; 5 April 1874 – 1 August 1964) was a Japanese lawyer, prosecutor, Home…Nobuyasu Satō (Japanese: 佐藤 信安, Satō Nobuyasu; 5 April 1874 – 1 August 1964) was a Japanese lawyer, prosecutor, Home Ministry official, and politician who served as the Mayor of Hiroshima from 1922 to 1925.
Ryukichi Inada (稲田 龍吉, Inada Ryūkichi; March 18, 1874 – February 27, 1950) was a Japanese physician, prominent…Ryukichi Inada (稲田 龍吉, Inada Ryūkichi; March 18, 1874 – February 27, 1950) was a Japanese physician, prominent academic, and bacteriologist researcher. He discovered the Weil's disease pathogen. In addition to his life's work in early 20th-century Japanese medical education, he was a pioneer in Japanese clinical cardiology and oncology.
Wasaburo Oishi (大石 和三郎, Ōishi Wasaburō; 15 March 1874 – 18 December 1950) was a Japanese meteorologist. Born in Tosu…Wasaburo Oishi (大石 和三郎, Ōishi Wasaburō; 15 March 1874 – 18 December 1950) was a Japanese meteorologist. Born in Tosu, Saga, he is best known for his discovery of the high-altitude air currents now known as the jet stream. He was also an important Esperantist, serving as the second board president of the Japanese Esperanto Institute from 1930 to 1945.
Sakutaro Tachi (立 作太郎, Tachi Sakutarō; 1874–1943) was a Japanese expert on international law. Studied law at Tokyo…Sakutaro Tachi (立 作太郎, Tachi Sakutarō; 1874–1943) was a Japanese expert on international law. Studied law at Tokyo Imperial University, and graduated in 1897. In 1900–04 studied law in Europe. In 1904 became professor of law at Tokyo Imperial University. In 1919 served as member of the Commission of Responsibilities, which dealt with the issue of war crimes. In 1921–22 served as member of the Japanese delegation to the Washington naval conference. He opposed the idea to outlaw war in the Kellogg–Briand Pact, arguing the idea was unrealistic. From 1931 onward, justified Japanese policy in north-China as self-defense relating to Japanese interests. Regarding the mandates system under the League of Nations, held the view that the mandatory power had total sovereignty over the mandate territory.
Morimasa, Prince Nashimoto (梨本宮守正王, Nashimoto no miya Morimasa ō; 9 March 1874 – 2 January 1951) was a member of the…Morimasa, Prince Nashimoto (梨本宮守正王, Nashimoto no miya Morimasa ō; 9 March 1874 – 2 January 1951) was a member of the Japanese Imperial Family and a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army. An uncle-in-law of Hirohito (Emperor Shōwa), an uncle of his consort, Empress Kōjun, and the father-in-law of Crown Prince Euimin of Korea, Prince Nashimoto was the only member of the Imperial Family arrested for war crimes during the Allied occupation of Japan following defeat in the Second World War.
Kyoshi Takahama (高浜 虚子, Takahama Kyoshi; 22 February 1874 – 8 April 1959) was a Japanese poet active during the Shōwa…Kyoshi Takahama (高浜 虚子, Takahama Kyoshi; 22 February 1874 – 8 April 1959) was a Japanese poet active during the Shōwa period of Japan. His real name was Takahama Kiyoshi (高浜清); Kyoshi was a pen name given to him by his mentor, Masaoka Shiki.
Ushimaro Sawada (沢田 牛麿, Sawada Ushimaro; 6 February 1874 – 29 January 1958) was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician…Ushimaro Sawada (沢田 牛麿, Sawada Ushimaro; 6 February 1874 – 29 January 1958) was a Japanese bureaucrat and politician who served as Governor of Aomori Prefecture, Governor of Saga Prefecture, Governor of Ishikawa Prefecture, Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture, 19th Director-General of the Hokkaidō Agency, and later as a member of the House of Peers.
Kenkichi Yoshizawa (芳澤 謙吉, Yoshizawa Kenkichi; 24 January 1874 – 5 January 1965) was a Japanese diplomat in the Empire…Kenkichi Yoshizawa (芳澤 謙吉, Yoshizawa Kenkichi; 24 January 1874 – 5 January 1965) was a Japanese diplomat in the Empire of Japan, serving as 46th Foreign Minister of Japan in 1932. He was the father-in-law of Sadao Iguchi, a diplomat who served as Ambassador to the United States, and maternal grandfather of Sadako Ogata, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and maternal grandfather of Yutaka Kawashima, a former Grand Chamberlain of Japan.
Hitachiyama Taniemon (常陸山 谷右衞門; January 19, 1874 – June 19, 1922) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Mito…Hitachiyama Taniemon (常陸山 谷右衞門; January 19, 1874 – June 19, 1922) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. He was the sport's 19th yokozuna from 1903 till 1914. His great rivalry with Umegatani Tōtarō II created the "Ume-Hitachi Era" and did much to popularise sumo. He is remembered as much for his exploits in promoting the sport as for his strength on the dohyō. In his later years as head coach of Dewanoumi stable he trained hundreds of wrestlers, including three yokozuna. Many consider him the most honorable yokozuna in sumo history, which earned him the nickname "Kakusei" (角聖), or "sumo saint".
Masatake Morita (森田 正馬, Morita Masatake; 1874–1938), also read as Shōma Morita, was the founder of Morita therapy, a…Masatake Morita (森田 正馬, Morita Masatake; 1874–1938), also read as Shōma Morita, was the founder of Morita therapy, a branch of clinical psychology strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism. In his capacity as the head of psychiatry for a large Tokyo hospital, Morita began developing his methods while working with sufferers of shinkeishitsu, or anxiety disorders with a hypochondriac base.
Namihei Odaira (小平 浪平, Odaira Namihei; January 15, 1874 – October 5, 1951) was a Japanese entrepreneur and…Namihei Odaira (小平 浪平, Odaira Namihei; January 15, 1874 – October 5, 1951) was a Japanese entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded Hitachi.
Bunji Okada (Japanese: 岡田文次; 1 January 1874 – 23 July 1943) was Director of the Karafuto Agency (1914–1916). He was…Bunji Okada (Japanese: 岡田文次; 1 January 1874 – 23 July 1943) was Director of the Karafuto Agency (1914–1916). He was Governor of Tochigi Prefecture (1911–1914). He was a graduate of Tokyo Imperial University.
Takuji Yamashita (山下 宅治, Yamashita Takuji; 1874–1959) was a Japanese civil rights activist. In spite of social and…Takuji Yamashita (山下 宅治, Yamashita Takuji; 1874–1959) was a Japanese civil rights activist. In spite of social and legal barriers, he directly challenged three major barriers against Asians in the United States: citizenship, joining a profession, and owning land.
Inabata Katsutaro (稲畑勝太郎, Inabata Katsutarō; 30 October 1862 – 29 March 1949) was a Japanese industrialist and film…Inabata Katsutaro (稲畑勝太郎, Inabata Katsutarō; 30 October 1862 – 29 March 1949) was a Japanese industrialist and film pioneer.
Murakami Kakuichi (村上 格一, Kakuichi Murakami; 21 December 1862 – 15 November 1927) was an admiral in the Imperial…Murakami Kakuichi (村上 格一, Kakuichi Murakami; 21 December 1862 – 15 November 1927) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Navy Minister in the early 1920s.
Kuroiwa Shūroku (黒岩 周六, Kuroiwa Shūroku; 29 September 1862 – 6 October 1920), also known as Kuroiwa Ruikō (黒岩 涙香), was…Kuroiwa Shūroku (黒岩 周六, Kuroiwa Shūroku; 29 September 1862 – 6 October 1920), also known as Kuroiwa Ruikō (黒岩 涙香), was a Japanese journalist, novelist and translator. He founded Yorozu Chōhō in 1892, which soon became one of Japan's largest newspapers. He translated more than 100 French and English language novels into the Japanese language. In 1919, while on his way to the Paris Peace Conference, Kuroiwa met with Madam C. J. Walker of the International League for Darker People to discuss a shared strategy at the conference. His Dharma name, which he chose himself, was Kuroiwain Shūroku Ruikō Chūten Koji (黒岩院周六涙香忠天居士).
Tadamichi Kamaya (Japanese: 釜屋忠道, Hepburn: Kamaya Tadamichi; November 4, 1862 – January 19, 1939), also known as Kamaya…Tadamichi Kamaya (Japanese: 釜屋忠道, Hepburn: Kamaya Tadamichi; November 4, 1862 – January 19, 1939), also known as Kamaya Chūdō, was a Japanese Vice Admiral and Banker of the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War. He was known for commanding the Sado Maru during the Battle of Tsushima and was the chairman of the Asahi Shinkin Bank in his later years.
Ishibashi Hajime (石橋甫, Ishibashi Hajime; July 28, 1862 – January 11, 1942) was a Japanese Vice-Admiral of the First…Ishibashi Hajime (石橋甫, Ishibashi Hajime; July 28, 1862 – January 11, 1942) was a Japanese Vice-Admiral of the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War. He primarily commanded the Matsushima, Takasago, and the America Maru throughout both wars and was the Chief Navigator of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Tanaka Shōhei (田中正平, Tanaka Shōhei; May 15, 1862 – October 16, 1945) was a Japanese physicist, music theorist, and…Tanaka Shōhei (田中正平, Tanaka Shōhei; May 15, 1862 – October 16, 1945) was a Japanese physicist, music theorist, and inventor. He graduated from Tokyo University in 1882 as a science student. On an imperial scholarship, he was sent to Germany for doctoral studies in 1884, together with Mori Ōgai. His dissertation concerned just intonation and practical means to its implementation. Tanaka was an early advocate of 53 equal temperament as a means of closely approximating 5-limit just intonation. He was the first to obtain a clear understanding of the temperament, noticing that it tempered out both the schisma, 32805/32768, but also the kleisma (), an interval of size 15625/15552 = 2−6 3−5 56, which is the interval by which five just minor thirds of size 6/5 exactly differs from a just tenth of size 5/2 exactly. Tanaka was the first to take practical note of this interval and gave it its name. Tanaka realized that the 53 equal temperament was completely characterized as a five limit temperament by the fact that it tempers out both the schisma and the kleisma. Tanaka was also an early advocate of the use of the hexagonal lattice for representing the pitch classes of 5-limit just intonation. First proposed in the 18th century by Leonhard Euler, this model was also used by Hugo Riemann in his theory of harmony. Tanaka also suggested what would now be called a Fokker block as a way of viewing the pitch classes of 53 equal temperament. Tanaka proposed a set of harmonic cadences designed to reflect a traditional Japanese aesthetic, acknowledging pentatonic scales and incorporating suspended tones in the manner of the chords played by the shō. Tanaka's suggestion was taken up by a number of 20th-century Japanese composers and theorists. Tanaka was an inventor as well as a theoretician. He designed and patented a just intonation Enharmonium (enharmonic+harmonium) with 20 keys and 26 pitches in an octave. He had Johannes Kewitsch, of Berlin, construct a 5-octave version and in 1891 he demonstrated it to Anton Bruckner in Vienna, who was impressed with its potential. He also constructed an early calculating machine.
The Right Reverend Joseph Sakunoshin Motoda (22 February 1862 – 16 April 1928, 元田 作之進) was the first Japanese born…The Right Reverend Joseph Sakunoshin Motoda (22 February 1862 – 16 April 1928, 元田 作之進) was the first Japanese born Bishop of Tokyo in the Nippon Sei Ko Kai, the Anglican Church in Japan.
Lieutenant-General Mori Rintarō (森 林太郎; February 17, 1862 – July 8, 1922), known by his pen name Mori Ōgai (森 鷗外…Lieutenant-General Mori Rintarō (森 林太郎; February 17, 1862 – July 8, 1922), known by his pen name Mori Ōgai (森 鷗外; Japanese pronunciation: [mo.ɾʲi (|) oꜜː.ɡai, -ŋai]), was a Japanese Army Surgeon general officer, translator, novelist, poet and father of famed author Mari Mori. He obtained his medical license at a very young age and introduced translated German language literary works to the Japanese public. Mori Ōgai also was considered the first to successfully express the art of western poetry in Japanese. He wrote many works and created many writing styles. The Wild Geese (1911–1913) is considered his major work. After his death, he was considered one of the leading writers who modernized Japanese literature. His continued obstinacy to recognize beriberi as a thiamine deficiency led to the death of more than 27,000 Japanese soldiers.
Prince Arisugawa Takehito (有栖川宮威仁親王, Arisugawa-no-miya Takehito-Shinnō; January 13, 1862 – July 5, 1913) was the 10th…Prince Arisugawa Takehito (有栖川宮威仁親王, Arisugawa-no-miya Takehito-Shinnō; January 13, 1862 – July 5, 1913) was the 10th head of a cadet branch of the Japanese imperial family and a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Kinjirō Ashiwara (Japanese: 葦原 金次郎, Hepburn: Ashiwara Kinjirō, IPA: [a̠ɕiɰᵝa̠ɾa̠ kʲĩɴʑiɾoː]; November 3, 1850 –…Kinjirō Ashiwara (Japanese: 葦原 金次郎, Hepburn: Ashiwara Kinjirō, IPA: [a̠ɕiɰᵝa̠ɾa̠ kʲĩɴʑiɾoː]; November 3, 1850 – February 2, 1937) was a self-proclaimed "emperor" of Japan who rose to a celebrity status with his grandiose delusions and theatrical antics that were covered by the Japanese press for decades, beginning in the Meiji era. He styled himself first as Shogun Ashiwara (葦原将軍, Ashiwara Shōgun), then later as Emperor Ashiwara (葦原皇帝, Ashiwara Kōtei; or 葦原天皇, Ashiwara Tennō) and Sovereign Ashiwara (葦原帝, Ashiwara Mikado). After disrupting Emperor Meiji's procession and attempting to approach him, Ashiwara was involuntarily hospitalized in the Tokyo Metropolitan Psychiatric Asylum (present-day Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital) in 1882 and, despite a few escapes and re-detainments, remained there until his death in 1937.
Hatano Norinao (Japanese: 波多野敬直) (13 November 1850 – 29 August 1922) was a Japanese Minister of the Imperial Household…Hatano Norinao (Japanese: 波多野敬直) (13 November 1850 – 29 August 1922) was a Japanese Minister of the Imperial Household during Taishō era. He was born in Saga Prefecture. He was recipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (3rd class, 1899; 1st class, 1906), the Order of the Rising Sun (1 December 1915) and the Victory Medal for World War I (10 November 1915).
Marshal Count Hasegawa Yoshimichi (長谷川 好道; 1 October 1850 – 27 January 1924) was a field marshal in the Imperial…Marshal Count Hasegawa Yoshimichi (長谷川 好道; 1 October 1850 – 27 January 1924) was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and Japanese Governor General of Korea from 1916 to 1919. His Japanese decorations included Order of the Golden Kite (1st class) and Order of the Chrysanthemum.
Hosui Yamamoto (山本 芳翠, Yamamoto Hōsui; August 12, 1850 – November 15, 1906) was a Japanese artist. He is also sometimes…Hosui Yamamoto (山本 芳翠, Yamamoto Hōsui; August 12, 1850 – November 15, 1906) was a Japanese artist. He is also sometimes known as Yamamoto Tamenosuke.
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (27 June 1850 – 26 September 1904) was a Greek and Irish writer, translator, and teacher whose…Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (27 June 1850 – 26 September 1904) was a Greek and Irish writer, translator, and teacher whose work played a significant role in the introduction of the culture and literature of Japan to the mainstream Western world. His writings offered unprecedented insight into Japanese culture, especially his collections of legends and ghost stories, such as Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things. Before moving to Japan and becoming a Japanese citizen, he worked as a journalist in the United States, primarily in Cincinnati and New Orleans. His writings about New Orleans, based on his decade-long stay there, are also well-known. Hearn was born on the Greek island of Lefkada but moved to Dublin, where he was abandoned first by his mother, then his father, and finally by his father's aunt (who had been appointed his official guardian). At the age of 19, he immigrated to the United States, where he found work as a newspaper reporter, first in Cincinnati and later in New Orleans. From there, he was sent as a correspondent to Martinique in the French West Indies, where he stayed for two years, and then in 1890 to Japan, where he would remain for the rest of his life, assuming the name Yakumo Koizumi. In Japan, Hearn married Setsuko Koizumi, with whom he had four children. His writings about Japan offered the Western world an introduction to Japanese culture.
Viscount Ōura Kanetake (大浦 兼武; 15 June 1850 – 30 September 1918) was a politician and bureaucrat in late Meiji and…Viscount Ōura Kanetake (大浦 兼武; 15 June 1850 – 30 September 1918) was a politician and bureaucrat in late Meiji and early Taishō period Empire of Japan.
Count Hayashi Tadasu GCVO (林 董; 11 April 1850 – 10 July 1913) was a Japanese career diplomat and cabinet minister of…Count Hayashi Tadasu GCVO (林 董; 11 April 1850 – 10 July 1913) was a Japanese career diplomat and cabinet minister of Meiji-era Japan.
Viscount Kawamura Kageaki (川村 景明, Kageaki Kawamura; 8 April 1850 – 28 April 1926) was a field marshal in the Imperial…Viscount Kawamura Kageaki (川村 景明, Kageaki Kawamura; 8 April 1850 – 28 April 1926) was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army.
Count Kiyoura Keigo (清浦 奎吾; 14 February or 27 March 1850 – 5 November 1942) was a Japanese politician. He was the Prime…Count Kiyoura Keigo (清浦 奎吾; 14 February or 27 March 1850 – 5 November 1942) was a Japanese politician. He was the Prime Minister of Japan in 1924, during the period which historians have called the "Taishō Democracy".
Hitachiyama Torakichi (Japanese: 常陸山 虎吉; born in 1850 as Isoarashi Torakichi (五十嵐 虎吉, Isoarashi Torakichi)), also known…Hitachiyama Torakichi (Japanese: 常陸山 虎吉; born in 1850 as Isoarashi Torakichi (五十嵐 虎吉, Isoarashi Torakichi)), also known as Dewanoumi Unemon (出羽ノ海 運右エ門, Dewanoumi Unemon), was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ibaraki prefecture. He wrestled for the Hamakaze and Dewanoumi stables. His highest rank was Maegashira 1.
Masayoshi Oshikawa (押川方義; 1850–1928) was a Japanese evangelist, political activist and founder and first president of…Masayoshi Oshikawa (押川方義; 1850–1928) was a Japanese evangelist, political activist and founder and first president of Tohoku Gakuin University.
Baron Nagayo Sensai (長与 専斎; 16 October 1838 – 8 September 1902) was a medical doctor, educator and statesman in Meiji…Baron Nagayo Sensai (長与 専斎; 16 October 1838 – 8 September 1902) was a medical doctor, educator and statesman in Meiji period Japan.
Ueno Hikoma (上野 彦馬; October 15, 1838 – May 22, 1904) was a pioneer Japanese photographer, born in Nagasaki. He is noted…Ueno Hikoma (上野 彦馬; October 15, 1838 – May 22, 1904) was a pioneer Japanese photographer, born in Nagasaki. He is noted for his fine portraits, often of important Japanese and foreign figures, and for his excellent landscapes, particularly of Nagasaki and its surroundings. Ueno was a major figure in nineteenth-century Japanese photography as a commercially and artistically successful photographer and as an instructor.
Tanaka Yoshio (田中 芳男; 27 September 1838 – 22 June 1916) was a Japanese civil servant and naturalist. Born to a doctor…Tanaka Yoshio (田中 芳男; 27 September 1838 – 22 June 1916) was a Japanese civil servant and naturalist. Born to a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Iida, Shinano Province, Tanaka studied pharmacognosy in his youth with Keisuke Ito. In 1861 he moved to Edo and joined the Bansho Shirabesho (Office for the Investigation of Foreign Documents) the following year. In this job, he worked on the documentation of local produce. He was part of the Japanese delegation at the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris, where he exhibited a number of entomological specimens; this journey also gave him the opportunity to learn about Western museum curation. After the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese Civil Service was reorganised. Within the Daigaku (later the Ministry of Education) Tanaka joined the Bureau of Local Products, and then moved to the Museums Bureau in 1871. A decade later, his services were sought by the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce to oversee the menagerie attached to the National Museum of Natural History; Tanaka took advantage of the opportunity to create Ueno Zoo. Opened in 1882, it was Japan's first zoological park. The creation of the zoo resulted in Tanaka's promotion to Director-General of the Natural History Bureau, however he received little ministerial support for his botanical and zoological planning and resigned from the post the following year. In 1878 he helped to set up a school of agriculture in Komaba (which later became the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Agriculture) and in subsequent years was responsible for the founding of several societies, including the Dainippon Nokai ("Greater Japan Agricultural Society"), the Dainippon Sanrinkai ("Greater Japan Forestry Society") and the Dainippon Suisankai ("Greater Japan Fisheries Society"). He also published several books on botany and agriculture. In 1890 he was elevated to the House of Peers and in 1915 he was granted the title of danshaku (baron). Tanaka died in 1916. The Saxifragaceae species Tanakaea radicans is named after him. The standard author abbreviation Yo.Tanaka is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.
Prince Yamagata Aritomo (Japanese: 山縣 有朋; 14 June 1838 – 1 February 1922) was a Japanese statesman and general who…Prince Yamagata Aritomo (Japanese: 山縣 有朋; 14 June 1838 – 1 February 1922) was a Japanese statesman and general who twice served as prime minister of Japan, in 1889–1891 and 1898–1900. He was a leading member of the genrō, a group of senior courtiers and statesmen who dominated the politics of Japan during the Meiji era. As the Imperial Japanese Army's inaugural Chief of Staff, he was the chief architect of its nationalist and reactionary ideology, which has led some historians to consider him the "father" of Japanese militarism. Born to a low-ranking samurai family in the Chōshū Domain, Yamagata became a leader in the loyalist movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate. As a commander in the Boshin War, he helped lead the military forces of the Satsuma–Chōshū Alliance to victory in the Meiji Restoration. Following the Restoration, he traveled to Europe to study Western military systems and returned to become the central figure in the creation of the modern Imperial Japanese Army, implementing a nationwide conscription system. He led the new conscript army to victory over the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, which validated his military reforms and destroyed the last vestiges of the samurai class, including the right to bear swords. He further secured the army's independence from civilian control by creating an autonomous Imperial Army General Staff which reported directly to the Emperor of Japan. Entering civilian government, Yamagata served as Home Minister, where he established an efficient, centralized police and local government system. As Prime Minister from 1889 to 1891, he oversaw the opening of the first Imperial Diet under the new Meiji Constitution. Thereafter, he engaged in a protracted political contest with Itō Hirobumi over the nature of constitutional government. Whereas Itō grew to favor a system of compromise with the political parties, Yamagata remained a staunch advocate of a "transcendental" government where the cabinet would be composed of non-partisan bureaucrats accountable only to the emperor. After the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895, he served a second term as Prime Minister from 1898 to 1900, during which he passed laws to prevent political party members from holding key bureaucratic posts. From the outset of the 1900s, Yamagata vied against Itō for supremacy among the Meiji oligarchy. Upon Ito's assassination on 26 October 1909, he consolidated power to become the dominant figure in the Emperor's court. However, a political scandal that involved his meddling in Crown Prince Hirohito's engagement led to him losing power shortly before his death in February 1922.
Kusumoto Masataka (楠本 正隆) (14 April 1838 – 7 February 1902) was a Japanese Home Ministry government official. He was a…Kusumoto Masataka (楠本 正隆) (14 April 1838 – 7 February 1902) was a Japanese Home Ministry government official. He was a member of the House of Representatives of the Empire of Japan and its third speaker. Previously, he was governor of Niigata Prefecture (1872–1875) and Governor of Tokyo (1875–1879). He was a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, and in 1896, he was granted the title of baron (男爵, danshaku) under Meiji Japan's European-derived kazoku peerage system.
Count Gotō Shōjirō (後藤 象二郎; 13 April 1838 – 4 August 1897) was a Japanese samurai and politician during the Bakumatsu…Count Gotō Shōjirō (後藤 象二郎; 13 April 1838 – 4 August 1897) was a Japanese samurai and politician during the Bakumatsu and early Meiji period of Japanese history. He was a leader of Freedom and People's Rights Movement (自由民権運動, jiyū minken undō) which would evolve into a political party.
Marquess Ōkuma Shigenobu (Japanese: 大隈 重信; 11 March 1838 – 10 January 1922) was a Japanese statesman who was a leading…Marquess Ōkuma Shigenobu (Japanese: 大隈 重信; 11 March 1838 – 10 January 1922) was a Japanese statesman who was a leading figure in the Meiji and Taishō eras of Japan, serving as Prime Minister in 1898, and from 1914 to 1916. A key advocate for the adoption of Western science and culture in Japan, Ōkuma was a central figure in the country's modernization. He founded the political party Rikken Kaishintō and was an early proponent of parliamentary democracy. He is also the founder of Waseda University. Born in Hizen Province (modern-day Saga Prefecture), Ōkuma was an early advocate for the abolition of the feudal system and the establishment of a constitutional government. As an "outsider" from Saga, he was a rare exception in the Satsuma-Chōshū clique that dominated the Meiji government. He joined the government in 1868 and rose to become Minister of Finance, a position in which he unified the nation's currency, created a national budget, and established the national mint. Following a political crisis in 1881, he was ousted from the government by his rivals. In opposition, he founded the Rikken Kaishintō and became one of the most prominent public figures championing a British-style parliamentary system. Ōkuma returned to government as Foreign Minister in 1888 to work on treaty revision, but resigned after an assassination attempt by a nationalist in 1889 cost him his right leg. He later organized Japan's first party cabinet in 1898, serving as prime minister, though it collapsed after only four months. He returned to the premiership in 1914, leading Japan into World War I on the side of the Allies and formulating the Twenty-One Demands on China in 1915. Throughout his career, Ōkuma's populist and pro-modernization political style, his strong nationalism, and his unwavering advocacy for parliamentary rule made him one of the most influential statesmen of his generation. His national funeral in 1922 drew an unprecedented number of citizens.
Ōshima Takatō (大島 高任, May 11, 1826–March 29, 1901) was a Japanese engineer who created the first reverberation blast…Ōshima Takatō (大島 高任, May 11, 1826–March 29, 1901) was a Japanese engineer who created the first reverberation blast furnace in Japan. Ōshima was born of samurai status in Morioka City, Nanbu Domain which is now Iwate Prefecture in 1826. Around this time, the feudal clans of Japan were competing to develop advanced Western-style guns. The government of Mito Domain hired Ōshima to make Western-style guns. In 1855, the first of two reverberation blast furnaces that he built in Mito was completed. This furnace was used to make four mortars over the next year. These mortars, however, failed due to the use of poor quality iron. Ōshima returned to Nanbu-han where he built a new Western-style blast furnace at Kamaishi to produce a higher quality pig iron from the local magnetite mined there. For this work he was assisted by an engineer on loan from the Satsuma Domain. They used a design from a Dutch book Het Gietwezen In's Rijks Ijzer-geschutgieterij Te Luik by Huguenin. Their efforts were rewarded with success on December 1, 1857 when they fired the new furnace for the first time. Returning to Mito the next year, Ōshima successfully produced three mortars and one cannon. In April, a large shipment of pig iron arrived from Kamaishi and he produced three more large cannons. After 1868, he helped in the development of Japan's mining operations.
Magdalene of Nagasaki (長崎のマグダレナ, Nagasaki no Magudarena) (1611 – October 15, 1634) was a Japanese Christian who served…Magdalene of Nagasaki (長崎のマグダレナ, Nagasaki no Magudarena) (1611 – October 15, 1634) was a Japanese Christian who served as a translator and catechist for the Augustine Recollect missionaries. She became a tertiary of the Order of Augustinian Recollects.
