Kido+Koin+-+Leen+Jamaan+and+Kevin+Chung

Kido Koin (1837-1877)

** Background Information ** - Original name: Katsura Kogoro - Born in Hagi, Chosu Domain, now known as Yamaguchi prefecture - Lived during late Tokugawa period - Moved to edo to learn swordmanship - Became a Japanese statesman at Edo (other roles include education minister, chairman of local official council, home affairs minister, cabinet counselor) - Played important role in bringing down the Tokugawa and restoring the Meiji government - Died in 1877 after falling ill

** Slogan **
 * "Take precedence... we are not alone. // Forget // our past, and follow me in creating a // greater Japan // ." **

Kido Koin was against the Tokugawa Shogunate and what they stood for, feudalism. Kido convinced the feudal lords in joining the national government. In result, he played a key role in leading the Chosu clan who joined in an alliance with the Satsuma clan to bring down the Tokugawa Bakufu. Kido also helped Japan develop a broader perspective by promoting the adoption of Western thinking through his draft of the Five Charter Oaths and policies of modernization and centralization of the new Meiji government. In fact, it was on his trip to the US and Europe where his strong influence for a constitutional government came from.

In our slogan, Kido is telling his people to realize the fact that we are not alone in this world and asking for the support of developing a new centralized government, in the process denouncing isolation and feudalism.

- http://japanvisitor.blogspot.com/2010/05/takayoshi-kido-residence-hagi.html - http://www.japanesehistory.de/cabinets/KidoTakayoshi.htm - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kido_Takayoshi - http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Meiji_Restoration
 * Sources: **