Ōkuma+Shigenobu


 * Ōkuma Shigenobu (1838-1922)**



= = = = ="Emulate the West, surpass the West! " = **How would you like to defeat the invincible West someday?** **Okuma Shigenobu could make this dream come true by aiding Japan's industrial development and reforming the government.**


 * Background **

Okuma Shigenobu was born in February 16, 1838, as a first son of a Samurai. While his father raised him to become a warrior, he wanted to become a politician. Okuma was taught at a school of //rangaku// (Dutch/Western studies), and later took a lecturing position there. Okuma is best known as an eminent politician and later the founder of the prestigious Waseda University. Okuma served as the prime minister of Japan twice, as the eighth and the seventeenth prime minister of Japan. Upon studying ideas of the West, learning the English language and international law, Shigenobu became a strong advocate of the constitutional government as well as unity between the imperial court and the shogunate.


 * Achievements **

Okuma Shigenobu was an active participant of the Meiji Restoration. Okuma's knowledge of the West, as well as his forceful personality soon earned him a position as an official of the foreign affairs and later the Minister of Finance. He also co-founded the Constitutional Progressive party in 1882, in order to promote the parliamentary system. Okuma lost one leg in a terrorist attack while seeking to revise the unequal treaties as a Minister of Foreign Affairs. Above all, Okuma is best known for the unifying the nation's currency, as well as modernizing Japan's fiscal system (controlling taxes). His achievements largely aided Japan's industrial development.


 * Bibliography **

"Okuma Shigenobu - New World Encyclopedia." //New World Encyclopedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2011. < http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Okuma_Shigenobu>.

"Japan Mint." //Japan Mint//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2011. .