Baron Maejima Hisoka (前島 密; 24 January 1835 – 27 April 1919), born Ueno Fusagorō (上野 房五郎), was a Japanese statesman…Baron Maejima Hisoka (前島 密; 24 January 1835 – 27 April 1919), born Ueno Fusagorō (上野 房五郎), was a Japanese statesman, politician, and businessman in Meiji-period Japan. Maejima founded the Japanese postal service, and is known as Yūbin Seido no Chichi (郵便制度の父), or "Father of the Postal System".
Etō Shinpei (江藤 新平; 18 March 1834 – 13 April 1874) was a Japanese statesman during the early Meiji period, remembered…Etō Shinpei (江藤 新平; 18 March 1834 – 13 April 1874) was a Japanese statesman during the early Meiji period, remembered chiefly for his role in the unsuccessful Saga Rebellion.
Baron Nishi Amane (西周; 7 March 1829 – 30 January 1897) was a Japanese philosopher. He studied law and economics in the…Baron Nishi Amane (西周; 7 March 1829 – 30 January 1897) was a Japanese philosopher. He studied law and economics in the Netherlands. He became a political advisor to Tokugawa Yoshinobu before and after the Meiji Restoration. He served as a bureaucrat in the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Popular Affairs, and the Ministry of the Imperial Household under the Meiji government. He was involved in the drafting of the Military Precepts and the Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors. With Mori Arinori and others, he formed the Meirokusha and worked to introduce Western philosophy.
Nishimura Shigeki (西村 茂樹; 26 April 1828 – 18 August 1902) was a Japanese educator and leader of the Meiji Enlightenment…Nishimura Shigeki (西村 茂樹; 26 April 1828 – 18 August 1902) was a Japanese educator and leader of the Meiji Enlightenment during the Meiji period. He also went by his pen-name of Nishimura Hakuo. He wrote more than 130 books and over 200 articles in his long literary career. Born to the family of the samurai chief administer to the daimyō of Sakura domain, Shimōsa Province (present-day Chiba Prefecture), Nishimura was originally a Confucian scholar, but he studied rangaku as well. He supported the Tokugawa bakufu against the Meiji Restoration, but was so highly regarded that the new Meiji government recruited him to assist in the movement to educate the Japanese public on the western world. He was a founding member of the Meirokusha with Mori Arinori, and contributed numerous articles to the Meiroku Zasshi journal, on a wide range of topics, including on the relevance of ethics to government, a comparison of world government systems and world economic systems. Nishimura established his own intellectual society in 1876 to stress moral values. This became the Nihon Kodoka (Japan Society for Expansion of the Way), which proved to be a great success. The society promoted the belief that a reassertion of Japan's traditional moral values was necessary to strength Japan in the modern world. Nishimura believed that the Meiji government should serve a purpose to the people of Japan. He thought the government was superficial and should be rigid and clear in its laws. (In comparison to the Meiji government constantly changing their policies.) He was appointed to the House of Peers in 1890.
Takeda Ayasaburō (武田 斐三郎; November 4, 1827 - January 28, 1880), was a Japanese Rangaku scholar, and the architect of…Takeda Ayasaburō (武田 斐三郎; November 4, 1827 - January 28, 1880), was a Japanese Rangaku scholar, and the architect of the fortress of Goryōkaku in Hokkaidō. Takeda was born in the Ōzu Domain (modern-day Ōzu, Ehime) in 1827. He studied medicine, Western sciences (rangaku), navigation, military architecture. He was a student of Ogata Kōan and Sakuma Shōzan. In 1854 he was ordered to the island of Hokkaidō to reinforce the military infrastructure. He built the fortresses of Goryōkaku and Benten Daiba between 1854 and 1866, using Dutch books on military architecture, and also established a school. He also practiced sailing with the Hakodate Maru, one of Japan's first Western-style sailing ship, together with his students. He sailed to Russia with the ship, and engaged in some exchanges.
Kawakami Tōgai, originally Hiroshi (Japanese:川上 冬崖; 22 July 1828, Nagano Prefecture - 3 May 1881, Atami) was a Japanese…Kawakami Tōgai, originally Hiroshi (Japanese:川上 冬崖; 22 July 1828, Nagano Prefecture - 3 May 1881, Atami) was a Japanese painter; one of the first to work in the yōga (Western) style.
Akizuki Teijirō (秋月 悌次郎; 1824 – January 5, 1900) was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period, who served the…Akizuki Teijirō (秋月 悌次郎; 1824 – January 5, 1900) was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period, who served the Matsudaira clan of Aizu. Born in Aizuwakamatsu, Akizuki was recognized early as a skilled scholar, and he studied at the Tokugawa Shogunate's Shoheizaka school in Edo. He served as an advisor to Matsudaira Katamori, and was present for most of the latter's tenure as Kyoto Shugoshoku from 1862 to 1867. Akizuki was a senior commander of Aizu forces during the Boshin War. After the war, he became an educator, and worked in high schools in Kyushu. Later in his life, he was a colleague of Lafcadio Hearn, who referred to him in his writings.
Nikaidō Tokuyo (二階堂トクヨ, December 5, 1880 – July 17, 1941) was a Japanese educator, founder of the Japan Women's College…Nikaidō Tokuyo (二階堂トクヨ, December 5, 1880 – July 17, 1941) was a Japanese educator, founder of the Japan Women's College of Physical Education. She introduced western competitive team sports, including field hockey and cricket, to Japanese women's colleges.
Zhang Shizhao (simplified Chinese: 章士钊; traditional Chinese: 章士釗; pinyin: Zhāng Shìzhāo; Wade–Giles: Chang Shih-chao…Zhang Shizhao (simplified Chinese: 章士钊; traditional Chinese: 章士釗; pinyin: Zhāng Shìzhāo; Wade–Giles: Chang Shih-chao; 20 March 1881 – 1 July 1973), courtesy name Xingyan, pen name Huangzhonghuang, Qingtong or Qiutong, was a Chinese journalist, educator, politician of the early 20th century known for his advocacy first of revolutionary cultural values in the period leading up to the 1911 Revolution and then of traditional Confucian culture in following years. From the early years of the 20th century, Zhang edited a series of widely read journals and in the 1910s and 20s conducted respectful debates with New Culture Movement advocates of deep change and promoted Classical Chinese writing and protested written vernacular Chinese. He was the Minister of Justice and Minister of Education of the Beiyang Government, led by Duan Qirui during the Republic of China period. He was a senator in the Republic of China government and a standing committee member of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China and a standing committee member of the CPPCC in PRC. He was the president of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History. In 1949, Zhang was among a group of non-Communist intellectuals who reached out to Mao Zedong.
Masanori Hirasawa (平沢 正規, Hirasawa Masanori) is a Japanese astronomer and a prolific discoverer of asteroids. Between…Masanori Hirasawa (平沢 正規, Hirasawa Masanori) is a Japanese astronomer and a prolific discoverer of asteroids. Between 1991 and 1998, he discovered 52 minor planets in collaboration with fellow observer Shohei Suzuki at Mount Nyukasa Station. Both astronomers are graduates of Waseda University, after which they named the asteroid 9350 Waseda in 1991. Hirasawa is also a teacher.
Ma Junwu (Chinese: 馬君武; 1881 in Guilin – 1940 in Guilin) was a scientist and educator in China and first president of…Ma Junwu (Chinese: 馬君武; 1881 in Guilin – 1940 in Guilin) was a scientist and educator in China and first president of Guangxi University.
