Ōkuma+Shigenobu(A)+AJ

= // ﻿**Okuma Shigenobu** // = =  ** ﻿ ** 大熊重信  =

// ﻿**(1838-1922)** //

Tranquility starts with unity!



__Early Life__
As a child, he studied Chinese Confucian literature and Hagakure at first, but later moved to Dutch Studies Institution. HIs beliefs and thought were mainly based on western ideas, as he was a fluent speaker of the English language as well. His former thought of supporting the Tokugawa Japan transformed into taking in Meiji government in Japan due to foreign influences. Therefore, he strived to abolish the Tokugawa Japan's feudal system and create a Constitutional government system.

__IDEAS AND BELIEFS__
Okuma Shigenobu emphasized the idea of having the Europeans out of Japan. He also wanted Japan to abolish the feudal system, a system in which certain shogunates were given the most power, due do its failure to bring equality amongst the citizens of Japan. He held the determination in creating a constitutional government and wanted the resignation of Tokugawa. With these goals in mind, Japan is guaranteed an ideal nation to live in.

__ Achievements __


Okuma Shigenobu unified the country's currency system and drastically improved Japan's fiscal system. The improvement of the fiscal policy introduced the controlling of taxes paid by the citizens, and the spendings made by the government to control inflation and deflation. In order to decrease inflation, there had to be an increase in taxes and a decrease in spending. In order to increase deflation, taxes had to be lowered, while spendings of the government were to be raised. Okuma Shigenobu also co-founded Constitutional Progressive Party. Constitutional Progressive Party emphasized the fairness for the people. It replaced the choosing of the leader from heirs being chosen to an election, in which the public were to vote who they wanted their leader to be. The leader was also to rule under the limitations of the constitution which would set up a list of guidelines in which the government should control the nation upon. He also founded the Tokyo Semmon Gakko, commonly known as the Waseda University. Shigenobu also presented the Twenty-one Demands to China. Unfortunately, a revised version of the Twenty-one Demands was produced and known as the Thirteen Demands, as it brought negative consequences to Japan.

__Why Shigenobu?__
Tired of the old feudal system ? Tired of the disparate currency system ? Tired of those foreigners living in Japan? Well, Okuma Shigenobu has the answers to your problems! Okuma Shigenobu is the key for Japan's advancements. He supports Meiji regime which will make Japan into a progressive and a prosperous country. His role in Japanese government sought to have improved the economy of Japan by creating tariffs which was beneficial for the nation as a whole. Without Okuma, Japan might've had to suffer a long period of status quo under the Tokugawa Japan which would've made Japan nothing more than a mediocre country. Okuma worked diligently for Japan's welfare, such as revising unequal treaties, even if it meant losing his leg. His creation of Waseda University allowed better education ground in Japan. Okuma's existence will lead Japan to a step towards greater Japan, and healthy modernization.

__ Bibliography __
__"Okuma Shigenobu." //Okuma Shigenobu//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. < http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/33_3.html>. __

__"Sales Japan 47 Prefectures Coin Program: Saga: Japan Mint." //Japan Mint//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. . __

"Okuma Shigenobu, 1840-1900 大熊重信."//www.japanesehistory.de//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. .