Okubo+Toshimichi+A





“The Right Change at the Right Time!” _Okubo Toshimich 大久保 利通 //DO YOU WANT TO OWN YOUR **OWN** LAND? DO YOU WANT TO STOP SEEING ARROGANT SAMURAIS WITH THEIR SWORDS ON? DO YOU WANT MINORITY GROUP TO LIVE WITHOUT PUBLIC DISCRIMINATION? DO YOU WANT PROSPEROUS AND POWERFUL JAPAN?//

Now, the right time has come. With Okubo Toshimich’s reform, you can own your OWN land. Burakumin, or outcasts, can be freed from official discrimination. With Okubo Toshimichi’s reconstruction, there are no more former samurais, wearing the swords and boasting their power all over the place. With Okubo Toshimichi’s recognition on superiority of Western technology and political system, Japan can soon catch up the Western World.With Okubo Toshimich’s vision on future Japan, Japan can build a modern industrial Economy and strongest military power in the world. **He is the man who can change and bring chances for Japanese to live a fair, jubilant, and proud life.** Ideas & Beliefs: • (Before Meiji Restororation) Japan can not proceed alliance between imperial court and Tokugawa Shogunate therefore, overthrows Tokugawa shogun from the country. • Japan needs an organized, gradual revolution, rather than radical, unexpected change. • Japan's development and stabilization was first to Okubo; expansion had to come after that. • Government has to lead development, not the people and the corporations. • Opening the country was absolutely necessary for Japan in order to develop quickly enough to catch up with the rest of the world. • He realized military superiority of West due to the bombardment of Kagoshima in 1863 • He supports Otto von Bismark of Prussia’s belief, “Enrich the country, strengthen the army” - fukoku kyohei.

Achievements:
 * Land Tax Reform
 * For the first time in Japanese history, Japanese have a right to own private land. Still, they need to pay the taxes in the cash value. Through this change, Japan has a standardized system on collecting taxes in currency instead of crops. Also, the daimyo no longer has power over taking the crops away from the farmers.
 * Adopted western political system.
 * Successfully suppressed the uprising of samurai by, which stabilized Japanese society.
 * lowered the land taxes for farmer, settling down his critics who thinks him as a despot and ignorant ruler.

About Okudo:

Early Life Okubo Toshimichi was born on August 10th, 1830, in Kagoshima. His child name was Shougesa (正袈裟). When he was young, he studied with people such as Saigo Takamori, who also became important figues of Meiji Japan. In 1844, he changed his name into Toshisada(利済). Finally, he changed his name into Toshimich(利通). Later he became one of the leaders of Satsuma Han. Satsuma Han was the biggest enemy of Tokugawa Bakufu.

Meiji Restoration In 1868, the alliance of Satsuma Han and Choshu Han destroyed Tokugawa Bakufu and established a new government led by the emperor. As a member of the Iwakura Mission, Okubo traveled the west and acquired new ideas for Japan. After returning to Japan, he established factories, schools and policies, in order to accelerate the economic development of Japan. Saigo Takamori stated that Japan should invade Korea. Okubo went against this idea, saying that Japan is still in the process of development. The government was on Okubo's side. Saigo went back to Satsuma. He put on a rebellion, but failed; Okubo surpressed Satsuma Rebellion in 1877 by settling down anti-Meiji government. He lowered famers‘ land taxes and promised people with building a constitutional government. Takamori ended up committing suicide. However, Okubo Toshimichi was also assassinated by people who were against him, such as Shimada Ichiro. Okubo was killed by 6 people in Tokyo on May 14th, 1878.

Citation "Okubo Toshimichi." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2011.