Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: famous person

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Mogami Tokunai

最上徳内
alternative words: Tokunai Mogami
keywords: explorer , famous person , northern territory
related topics: Edo shogunate , Ezochi , Honda Toshiaki
related web sites: http://www.marimo.or.jp/~nmcinfo/mugenko/p05/P043_1.htm
explanation: Explorer of Ezochi, actual Hokkaido, Sakhalin and Kuril, at the end of Edo period. Born in 1754 in Yamagata prefecture, he learned first astronomy and surveying technique at Tokyo from a mathematician, Honda Toshiaki. Engaged by Edo shogunate instead of Toshiaki, he explored different parts of Ezochi, especially south Kuril (1786) and south Sakhalin (1792). Knowing Ainu and Russian languages, he gave good advises about Ezochi to Edo shogunate. He died in 1836.

Motoori Norinaga

本居宣長
alternative words: Norinaga Motoori
keywords: famous person , philosophy , scholar
related topics: Edo period , Kojiki , Kokugaku
related web sites: http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~MARUYAMA/tokugawa/norinaga.htm , http://www3.justnet.ne.jp/~rinri/036.htm , http://www.ndl.go.jp/exhibit/50/html/catalog/c065.html , http://www.city.matsusaka.mie.jp/KAN/T01/MOTO.html , http://www.izumishobo.co.jp/iode27-1a.htm
explanation: Kokugaku philosopher. Born in 1730 in a rich merchant family of Ki domain. Soon his family business declined, he had to go to Kyoto to study the medicine to earn a living. After having returned back to home, he continued to study classic literature. In 1762, he met Kamo Mabuchi and became his disciple. After a long study of Kojiki, he published in 1798 Kojiki-den which affirms a supremacy of Japanese ideology over Confucianism and Buddhism. Hirata Atsutane was his disciple.

Mouri Motonari

毛利元就
alternative words: Motonari Mouri, Mori Motonari, Motonari Mori
keywords: famous person , war lord
related topics: Sengoku period , Oda Nobunaga , Choshu domain
related web sites: http://www.shinkin.co.jp/hiroshin/hiroshima/mo_top.htm , http://www.cisnet.or.jp/~fujicre/mouri.html , http://www.potato.ne.jp/~zhuben/
explanation: Born in 1497 in Hiroshima prefecture as the 2d son of Hiromoto. Clever tactician, he had survived under a protection of Ouchi family against Amako. After the assassination of Ouchi Yoshitaka, he punished traitors and annexed the feud of Ouchi then Amako. Once he controlled all Chugoku region, he entered a conflict against Oda Nobunaga but was saved thanks to his assassination. He gave a lesson to 3 sons by showing that each arrow can be broken but 3 together unbreakable. He died in 1571.

Muramasa

村正 右衛門尉村正 妖刀村正
alternative words: Uemonnojo Muramasa, Uemon no jo Muramasa, Cursed sword Muramasa
keywords: art , craft , famous person , weapon
related topics: Muromachi period , Tokugawa Ieyasu , Sengoku period , Japanese sword
related web sites: http://nabesan.stbbs.net/history/japanese/muramasa.html
explanation: Sword smith of the late Muromachi period in Mie prefecture. By studying the swords, it was shown that there should have existed 3 generations of sword smiths who carried the name of Muramasa. They were characterized by a similitude of motifs on the both side and very popular during Sengoku period because of their sharpness. They became cursed swords of Tokugawa family because both the grand farther and farther of Tokugawa Ieyasu would have been killed by Muramasa swords.

Musashimaru Koyo

武蔵丸光洋 武蔵丸
alternative words: Musashimaru
keywords: famous person , foreigner , sumo
related topics: Sumo , Yokozuna
related web sites: http://www03.u-page.so-net.ne.jp/rd5/musasi/ , http://cen4.ec.hokudai.ac.jp/~s960084/report/yokoduna/y67.html
explanation: Born on May 2, 1971 in Samoa island and educated in Hawaii, he is the second foreign born sumo wrestler who has reached the rank of a great champion, Yokozuna. He won 7 times championship in the national tournaments and belongs to the stable of Musashigawa, contrary to other Hawaii born sumo wrestlers.

Mutsu Munemitsu

陸奥宗光
alternative words: Munemitsu Mutsu
keywords: famous person , meiji revolution , statesman
related topics: Sino-Japanese war , Shimonoseki treaty , Meiji revolution , Han , Sakamoto Ryoma , Seinan war , Ito Hirobumi
related web sites: http://www06.u-page.so-net.ne.jp/fa2/redfield/0401.htm
explanation: Born in 1844 in a samurai family of Ki domain. He left his han very young and enrolled into Kaientai of Sakamoto Ryoma to overthrow Edo shogunate. After Meiji revolution, he carried out a tax reform as high ranking official but was jailed for a participation to Seinan war. After an amnesty, he entered foreign ministry and became foreign minister of Ito Hirobumi in 1892. He succeeded to modify an unequal custom treaty with Great Britain in 1894 and led the diplomacy of Sino-Japanese war. He died in 1897.

Myoan Yosai

明庵栄西 栄西
alternative words: Myoan Eisai, Yosai Myoan, Eisai Myoan, Yosai, Eisai
keywords: buddhism , china , famous person , priest
related topics: Rinzai sect , Tendai sect , Zen , Kamakura shogunate
explanation: Born in 1141 in a samurai family of Okayama prefecture. He learned first Esoteric Buddhism from Tendai sect of Mt Hiei. He went 2 times to China (1168 and 1186) to learn Zen, then opened the first Japanese Zen temple, Seifukuji, in Fukuoka. When he went to Kyoto to propagate Zen, he was persecuted by Tendai sect and had to flee to Kamakura. There he built Jufukuji temple under a patronage of Kamakura shogunate, then Kenninji temple at Kyoto. He died in 1215.

Nakahama Manjiro

中浜万次郎 ジョン万次郎
alternative words: Manjiro Nakahama, Manjiro, Manjirou, John Manjiro, John Manjirou
keywords: explorer , famous person , meiji revolution
related topics: Tosa domain , Edo shogunate , Meiji revolution
related web sites: http://www.city.tosashimizu.kochi.jp/john/ , http://www2.netwave.or.jp/~okadas/dan/jonman.htm
explanation: Born in 1827 in a fisher family of Tosa domain. In 1841, his ships was wrecked and drifted but saved a half year later by an American whaler. He went then to USA and learnt English , navigation and mining techniques. After having worked in a gold mine and whaling, he returned back to Japan in 1851. Edo shogunate engaged him as a translator of foreign books. He taught also navigation and whaling techniques. After Meiji revolution, he became an English teacher. He died in 1898.

Nakatomi no Kamatari

中臣鎌足 藤原鎌足
alternative words: Nakatomino Kamatari, Fujiwara no Kamatari, Fujiwarano Kamatari, Kamatari
keywords: famous person , statesman
related topics: Asuka period , Taika reform , Emperor Tenchi , Soga no Iruka , Fujiwara no Fuhito , Fujiwara family
explanation: Born in 614 in a shinto priest family. Furious with the arrogance of Soga clan, he approached Prince Nakano ooe (later Emperor Tenchi) and plotted a coup d'�tat against them. After the elimination of Soga clan in 645, he became the prime minister (Nai Daijin) and strove for the success of Taika reform with Prince Nakano ooe. Juste before his death in 669, Emperor Tench offered him the name of "Fujiwara" who would become later the most influential nobility in Japan.

Nichiren

日蓮 日蓮上人
alternative words: Holly Nichiren, Nichiren shonin, Nichiren dai shonin, Nichiren shounin
keywords: buddhism , famous person , priest
related topics: Buddhism , Kamakura shogunate , Nichiren sect , Invasion of Mongols
related web sites: http://www2.justnet.ne.jp/~lotusueda/nichiren.htm , http://www.nichiren.or.jp , http://www.nichiren-etudes.net
explanation: Born in 1222 in Chiba prefecture. Sent at the age of 12 to Kinki region to learn different Buddhism, he convinced himself of the superiority of Hokekyo (Lotus Sutra) and condemned Jodo (Pure Land) belief. He entered the conflict with the latter and left the region for Kamakura. There, he wrote "Rissho ankokuron" who predicted a foreign invasion. For that reason, he was condemned to an exile to Sado island. After the Mongols' invasion, he was pardoned. He died in 1282 during a trip.

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