Kido Takayoshi
(Tokugawa shogunate years)

Kido Takayoshi (木戸孝允, Kido Takayoshi^?); 11 August 1833 - 26 May 1877), also referred as Kido Kōin was a Japanese statesman during the Late Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji Restoration. He used the alias Niibori Matsusuke (新堀松輔 Niibori Matsusuke) when he worked against the shogun. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (441x618, 96 KB) Summary Kido Takayoshi also known as Katsura Kogorō, date of picture unknown. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (441x618, 96 KB) Summary Kido Takayoshi also known as Katsura Kogorō, date of picture unknown. ... August 11 is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Late Tokugawa Shogunate (Japanese: Bakumatsu) is the period between 1853 and 1867 during which Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy called sakoku and modernized from a feudal shogunate to the Meiji government. ... The Meiji Restoration ), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japans political and social structure. ...

Early life

Kido was born in Hagi, in Chōshū domain (present-day Yamaguchi prefecture) as the second son of Wada Masakage (和田昌景), the domain doctor. He was adopted into the Katsura family at age seven, and until 1865 was known as Katsura Kogorō (桂小五郎). He was educated at the academy of Yoshida Shoin, from whom he adopted the philosophy of Imperial loyalism. Hagi (萩市; -shi) is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan and was founded on July 1, 1932. ... Nagato (Ja. ... Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県 Yamaguchi-ken) is located in the Chugoku region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Yoshida Shoin (吉田 松陰 Yoshida Shōin, 1830-1859) is a Japanese scholar and teacher. ...

In 1852, he went to Edo to study swordsmanship, established ties with radical samurai from Mito domain, learned artillery techniques with Egawa Tarozaemon, and (after observing the construction of foreign ships in Nagasaki and Shimoda), returned to Chōshū to supervise the construction of the domain's first western-style warship. Edo (Japanese: , literally: bay-door, estuary, pronounced //), once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo. ... Mito (水戸市; -shi) is the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan and has a central location, moderately offset towards the coast in that prefecture. ... Nagasaki (Japanese: 長崎市, Nagasaki-shi  , long peninsula) is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. ... Shimoda is the name of several places or a character. ...

Overthrow of the Tokugawa

After 1858, Kido was based at the domain's Edo residence, where he served as liaison between the domain bureaucracy and radical elements among the young, lower-echelon Chōshū samurai who supported the Sonnō jōi movement. Coming under suspicion by the Shogunate for his ties with Mito loyalists after the attempted assassination of Andō Nobumasa, he was transferred to Kyōto. However, while in Kyōto, he was unable to prevent the 30 September 1863 coup d'etat by the forces of the Aizu and Satsuma domains, who drove the Chōshū forces out of the city. He was involved in the unsuccessful attempt by Chōshū to regain control of the city on 20 August 1864, and forced into hiding with a geisha by the name of Ikumatsu, who later became his wife. Sonnō jōi (尊皇攘夷) is a Japanese political philosophy and a social movement, which was derived from Neo-Confucianism; it was also a political slogan in 1850s-60s, meaning Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians, or being commonly translated as The origin of the philosophy can be seen in Takenouchi Shikibu... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Monument to the Byakkotai Samurai Aizu ) is a former feudal domain (Han), part of the modern-day Japanese prefecture of Fukushima, formerly a part of Mutsu province. ... August 20 is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Women posing as maiko (geisha apprentices), Kyoto, Japan wearing traditional furisode and okobo Geisha ) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers, whose skills include performing various Japanese arts, such as music, singing and dancing. ...

After radical elements under Takasugi Shinsaku gained control of Chōshū politics, Kido was instrumental in establishing the Satchō Alliance which proved to be critical in the Boshin War and the subsequent Meiji Restoration. Takasugi Shinsaku (高杉 晋作 1839-1867) is a samurai who contributed to the Meiji restoration. ... The Sat-Cho Alliance ) was a military alliance between Satsuma and ChōshÅ« formed in 1866 to combine their efforts to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu. ... The Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought in 1868-1869 between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro-Imperial forces in Japan. ... The Meiji Restoration ), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japans political and social structure. ...

Meiji statesman

Following the overthrow of the Tokugawa bakufu, Kido claimed a large role in the establishment of the new Meiji government. As a sangi (Imperial Councilor) he helped draft the Five Charter Oath, and initiated policies of centralization and modernization. He helped direct the Abolition of the han system. The Tokugawa shogunate or Tokugawa bakufu (徳川幕府) (also known as the Edo bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family until 1868. ... Emperor Mutsuhito Mutsuhito or Mitsuhito (睦仁), the Meiji Emperor (明治天皇, literally wise ruling heaven emperor) (3 November 1852–30 July 1912) was the 122nd Emperor of Japan. ... The Five Charter Oath (五箇条の御誓文, Gokajyo no Goseimon) was an outline of the main aims and the course of action to be followed by the new Meiji era government of Japan after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1867 during the Meiji Restoration. ... Occurring in 1871, the abolition of the han system and establishment of the prefecture system (廃藩置県, haihan-chiken; hai abolish + han + chi set down + ken prefecture) was an act to replace the traditional han system and introduce new local government. ...

In 1871, he accompanied the Iwakura Mission on its round-the-world voyage to the United States and Europe, and was especially interested in western educational systems and politics. On his return to Japan, he became a strong advocate of the establishment of constitutional government. Realizing that Japan was not in any position to challenge the western powers in its present state, he also returned to Japan just in time to prevent an invasion of Korea (Seikanron). The Iwakura Mission or Iwakura Embassy was a diplomatic journey around the world, initiated by the oligarchs of the Meiji era. ... Constitutional government is a political science term which refers to a government acting within constitutional law and the constitution. ... Korea (Korean: 한국 or 조선, see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ... The Seikanron debate. ...

Kido lost his dominant position in the Meiji oligarchy to Ōkubo Toshimichi, and reigned from government in protest of the Taiwan Expedition of 1874, which he had strenuously opposed. The Meiji oligarchy, as the new ruling class of Meiji period Japan is known to historians, was a privileged clique that exercised imperial power, sometimes despotically. ... ÅŒkubo Toshimichi ÅŒkubo Toshimichi );, (10 August 1830 – 14 May 1878), was a Japanese statesman, a samurai of Satsuma, and one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration. ... Combatants Paiwan tribes Empire of Japan Commanders Paiwan tribal leaders Saigō Tsugumichi Strength Paiwan Tribesmen: ? Japanese: 3,600 Casualties Killed: 30 Wounded: ? Killed: 12 Wounded: ? Diseased: 531 The Taiwan Expedition of 1874 (Japanese: Taiwan Shuppei: 台湾出兵. In Taiwan, the expedition is referred to as the Mudan incident. ...

Following the Ōsaka Conference of 1875, Kido agreed to return to the government, and became chairman of the Assembly of Prefectural Governors that the Ōsaka Conference had created. He was also responsible for the education of the young Emperor Meiji. Emperor Meiji ) (November 3, 1852 — July 30, 1912) was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from February 3, 1867 until his death. ...

During the middle of Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, he died of natural causes. He was only 43 years old. Combatants Imperial Japanese Army Satsuma fief Commanders Ruler: Meiji Emperor CIC: Sumiyoshi Kawamura Saigo Takamori Strength 300,000 40,000 Casualties  ? about 30,000 dead The Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan Sensō 西南戦争, Southwestern War) was a revolt of the Satsuma clan samurai against the Imperial Japanese Army, which occured 11 years into... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Legacy

Kido’s diary reveals an intense internal conflict between his loyalty to his home domain, Chōshū, and the greater interest of the country. He wrote often of having to fight rumors at home that he had betrayed his old friends; the idea of a nation was still relatively new in Japan and so the majority of samurai cared more for securing privileges for their own domain.

Together with Saigō Takamori and Ōkubo Toshimichi, he is counted among what was known as the Ishin-no-Sanketsu (維新の三傑), which means, roughly, "three great nobles of the restoration". His younger sister's grandson was Tokyo politician Kōichi Kido (木戸幸一). Saigō Takamoris statue in Ueno park Saigō Takamori 23 January 1827/28 — 24 September 1877), one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history, lived during the late Edo Period and early Meiji Era. ... ÅŒkubo Toshimichi ÅŒkubo Toshimichi );, (10 August 1830 – 14 May 1878), was a Japanese statesman, a samurai of Satsuma, and one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration. ... In Japan Three great nobles are figured playing an important role in the Meiji restoration. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Marquis Koichi Kido ) (July 18, 1889 – April 6, 1977), served as Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal from 1940 to 1945, and was the closest advisor to Emperor Showa throughout World War II. Kido Kōichi was the grandson of Kido Takayoshi, one of the leaders of the Meiji Restoration. ...

Trivia

• In the OVA of Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal, Katsura was the lord of Himura Kenshin during his days as a hitokiri. His seiyuu is Tomokazu Seki.
• Kido Takayoshi (Katsura Kogoro) also appears in the anime Shura no Toki and is the inspiration for Katsura in Gintama.

Himura Kenshin Himura Kenshin ) is a fictional character of the anime and manga series Rurouni Kenshin, also known as Samurai X. Hes known as Kenshin Himura in Western-order and is the chosen order for the English versions. ... Hitokiri (人斬) is a term given to four different samurai during the period of time known as the Bakumatsu in Japanese history. ... For the article about the company named Seiyu, see Seiyu Group. ... Tomokazu Seki (é–¢ 智一 Seki Tomokazu, born September 8, 1972) is a popular voice actor (seiyÅ«) in Japan. ... Shura no Toki ) is an anime. ... Gintama ) is a manga created by Hideaki Sorachi. ...

Reference and further reading

• Akamatsu, Paul. Meiji 1868: Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Japan. Trans. Miriam Kochan. New York: Harper & Row, 1972.

• Beasley, W. G. The Meiji Restoration. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1972.

• Beasley, W. G. The Rise of Modern Japan: Political, Economic and Social Change Since 1850. St. Martin's Press, New York 1995.

• Craig, Albert M. Chōshū in the Meiji Restoration. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1961.

• Jansen, Marius B. and Gilbert Rozman, eds. Japan in Transition: From Tokugawa to Meiji. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1986.

External links

• Photograph of Kido
• Selected Diary Entries of Kido
• National Diet Library photo & bio