Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: famous person

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Maeda Toshiie

前田利家 犬千代
alternative words: Toshie Maeda, Inuchiyo
keywords: famous person , war lord
related topics: Oda Nobunaga , Toyotomi Hideyoshi
related web sites: http://www5.justnet.ne.jp/~tou/ , http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~gokuh/ghp/busho/mbu_001.htm
explanation: Born in 1538 near Nagoya. Since childhood, he served Oda Nobunaga. Once banished then pardoned, he contributed greatly to Nobunaga's victories. In 1575 he became a castle owner in Fukui prefecture. During the battle of Shizugadake in 1583, he betrayed his friend Shibata Katsuie and allied to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After the battle, his fief was moved to Kanazawa. He was appointed one of 5 tairos (go tairo) and tutor of Toyotomi Hideyori, a son of Hideyoshi. He died in 1599.

Mamiya Rinzo

間宮林蔵
alternative words: Rinzo Mamiya, Mamiya Rinzou, Rinzou Mamiya
keywords: explorer , famous person , northern territory
related topics: Edo shogunate , Ezochi , Ino Tadataka , Siebold
related web sites: http://www.karafuto.com , http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~XC8M-MMY/ , http://www.town.ina.ibaraki.jp/mamiya.htm
explanation: Born in 1775 in Ibaraki prefecture. Being very clever at mathematics, he went to Tokyo to learn the surveying technique from Ino Tadataka. After repeated incursions of Russians to "Ezochi", Edo shogunate gave him an order to explore the northern part of Sakhalin island. In 1809, he reached the north Sakhalin and showed that it is an island separated by a narrow channel. In 1828, he denounced a plan to export secretly a detailed Japanese map by von Siebold. He died in 1844.

Masamune

正宗 五郎正宗 五郎入道正宗
alternative words: Goro Masamune, Goronyudo Masamune, Goro nyudo Masamune
keywords: art , craft , famous person , weapon
related topics: Kamakura period , Oda Nobunaga , Sengoku period , Japanese sword
related web sites: http://www.n-p-s.net/T_Masamune.htm
explanation: Sword smith of the late Kamakura period but few is known about him because sword smiths were not considered as established artists at that period. According to a source, he was a disciple of Kunimitsu and lived at Kamakura. His swords were also called Masamune and characterized by a wide blade and gorgeous wave motifs which would be highly appreciated by war lords of sengoku period such as Oda Nobunaga. Due to its oldness, only some examples have survived until now.

Matsuo Basho

松尾芭蕉 芭蕉
alternative words: Basho Matsuo, Matsuo Bashou, Bashou Matsuo, Basho, Bashou
keywords: artist , famous person , poesy , writer
related topics: Haiku , Edo period
related web sites: http://www.bashouan.com/psBashou.htm , http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~hirobe/basyou/index.htm , http://www.ese.yamanashi.ac.jp/~itoyo/basho/basho.htm , http://133.67.71.133
explanation: Poet and travel writer of the early Edo period. Born in a samurai family of Mie prefecture in 1644, he learned Haiku first at Kyoto then Tokyo. There, he established gradually his own style and became a popular Haiku teacher. Unsatisfied with his fame, he spent the most of his advance ages in journeys. Nozarashi kiko (1684) related his journey in Kinki region, while Okuno hosomich (1689), in Tohoku region. He died in 1694 at Osaka when ready to depart to western Japan.

Matsuura Takeshiro

松浦武四郎
alternative words: Takeshiro Matsuura, Matsuura Takeshirou, Takeshirou Matsuura
keywords: explorer , famous person , northern territory , statesman
related topics: Edo period , Meiji period , Ezochi
explanation: Explorer of the late Edo period and the beginning of Meiji period. Born in 1818 in Mie prefecture. First he became an itinerant Buddhist monk to travel all over Japan. He was then engaged by Edo shogunate to explore all the regions of Ezochi and gave the name of Hokkaido to it. In 1868, he was nominated to an administrator of Hokkaido by the newly created Meiji government but quickly quit the post. He spent the remaining of his life with travel and writing. He died in 1888.

Minamoto no Yoritomo

源頼朝 頼朝
alternative words: Minamoto-no-yoritomo, Minamotono Yoritomo, Yoritomo
keywords: famous person , shogun , war lord
related topics: Kamakura shogunate , Kamakura period , Shogun , Genji , Heishi , Minamoto no Yoshitsune , Hojoshi , Hojo Masako , Gempei gassen
explanation: Born in Genji family as the 3d son of Yoshitomo in 1147. His father having lost Heiji war, had been executed and young Yoritomo, forced to exile in Izu province. 20 years later, thanks to an aid of his father-in-law, Hojo Tokimasa, he had subjugated Kanto region and made Kamakura, his fief. Ingenious politician, he finally succeeded to eliminate Heike family and Oshu Fujiwara together with Yoshitsune. He became shogun in 1192 and died in 1199 after a fall from the horse.

Minamoto no Yoriyoshi

源頼義
keywords: famous person
related topics: Zenkunen Gosannen war , Abe no Yoritoki
explanation: Born in 988 as a son of Minamoto no Yoinobu in Kochi province (actual Osaka), after several administrative and military careers, he was named as governor of Mutsu (actual eastern part of Tohoku region) in 1051 in order to suppress the revolt of Abe clan. He killed its leader, Yoritoki, in 1057 but was defeated at the battle of Kinomi. After concluded an alliance with Kiyoahara clan, another Fushu, he successfully reversed the initial diffuculties and eliminated the resistance of Abe clan. He died in 1075.

Minamoto no Yoshitsune

源義経 義経 牛若丸
alternative words: Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune, Minamotono Yoshitsune, Yoshitsune, Ushiwakamaru, Ushiwaka maru
keywords: famous person , war lord
related topics: Heishi , Genji , Minamoto no Yoritomo , Kiso Yoshinaka , Heian period , Gempei gassen
related web sites: http://www.st.rim.or.jp/~success/yositune.htm
explanation: Born in Genji family as the 9d son of Yoshitomo in 1159. After Heiji war, his father was executed but young Yoshitsune, pardoned. Then, he had been brought up by Oshu Fujiwara family. When his brother, Yoritomo, revolted against Heishi family, Yoshitsune jointed his army and greatly contributed to beat them. But his popularity provoked a jalousie of Yoritomo and forced to exile again to Oshu Fujiwara. He killed himself in 1189 when the troop of Yoritomo arrived.

Miyamoto Musashi

宮本武蔵 武蔵 二刀流
alternative words: Musashi Miyamoto, Musashi, Nitoryu, Nitouryu, Nito ryu, Nitou ryu
keywords: famous person , swordsman
related topics: Sengoku period , Edo period , Gorinnosho , Sasaki Kojiro
related web sites: http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~itoh/musashi01.htm , http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~square_a/musasi/index.htm
explanation: Famous swordsman, lived between Sengoku and early Edo periods. A legend said that he would have fought simultaneously against more than 100 experienced swordsmen and at that moment he invented a method of combat with 2 swords. Finally he had to challenge a duel with another skillful swordsman, Sasaki Kojiro, at Ganryujima island near Shimonoseki. Advanced in years, he left many pictures. He wrote a famous philosophy book, "Gorin no sho", too.

Mizuno Tadakuni

水野忠邦
alternative words: Tadakuni Mizuno
keywords: famous person , statesman
related topics: Roju , Edo shogunate , Daimyo , Hatamoto , Tenpo reform
related web sites: http://homepage1.nifty.com/jshoda/essays/essays49.htm , http://ww1.tiki.ne.jp/~i-mitu/tenpounokai.htm
explanation: Born in 1794 as a son of daimyo of northern Kyushu. An ambitious young man, he was first appointed Sojaban (responsible of shogun's protocol) in 1814 then climbed all the rungs of Edo shogunate to become finally roju in 1834. In order to suppress the budget deficit, he launched Tenpo reform with 12th shugun Tokugawa Ieyoshi. He tried to concentrate shogun's land around Edo (Agechirei) but it provoked a strong opposition among hatamoto and daimyo and forced him to resign roju. He died in 1851.

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