Shinagawa was born in Hagi, in former Chōshū Domain (present day Yamaguchi Prefecture). His father was an ashigaru, or lower ranking foot soldier in the service of the Mōri clan. During the Bakumatsu period, he attended Yoshida Shōin’s Shoka Sonjuku Academy, and was a fervent supporter of the Sonnō jōi movement.[1] In 1862, together with other pro-Sonnō jōi Chōshū samurai, he was a participant in an attack on the British legation in Edo. He was also present at the unsuccessful Hamaguri rebellion in Kyoto in August 1864. During the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration, he served as a staff officer in the Imperial armies in various battles against the remnants of Tokugawa shogunate forces in the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei in northern Honshū. He is also credited with writing the lyrics of "Miyasan, Miyasan" (宮さん宮さん), also known as "Tonyare-Bushi", a humorous loyalist song that was popular during the Boshin War.[2]
After the establishment of the Meiji government, Shinagawa was sent to France for studies, arriving in Paris in 1870, where he was thus able to experience modern western military technologies and strategy during the Franco-Prussian War firsthand. After his return to Japan, he was appointed Chief Secretary of the Home Ministry, later rising to the post of Junior Vice Home Minister, followed by the position of Senior Vice Agriculture and Commerce Minister. He supported the development of agriculture and forestry through his efforts towards the formation of Credit unions and agricultural cooperatives.[3] He later briefly returned to Germany as a diplomat. In 1891, Shinagawa was appointed Home Minister in cabinet of Prime MinisterMatsukata Masayoshi.
Bronze statue of Shinagawa at Yasukuni Shrine
During the tumultuous Japanese General Election of 1892, Shinagawa responded to indirect criticism from Emperor Meiji of the failure of the Diet of Japan to reach an agreement on the national budget by accusing opposition political parties of sedition, and using his authority as Home Minister to take police action to suppress opposition political party activities during the election, and to intimidate candidates and voters.[4] The resulting riots and other public disturbances around Japan led to numerous deaths and injuries, and the election itself was marred by balloting irregularities. Shinagawa came under much public criticism over the course of events, and was forced to resign from his post.[5]
After his resignation, together with fellow former Home Minister Saigō Tsugumichi, Shinagawa founded the conservative Kokumin Kyōkai political party, serving as its vice-president.
Shinagawa was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class, posthumously in 1900. A large bronze statue of Shinagawa is located to the left of the main entrance to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.[6]
Schencking J. Charles. Making Waves: Politics, Propaganda, And The Emergence Of The Imperial Japanese Navy, 1868–1922. Stanford University Press (2005). ISBN0-8047-4977-9
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shinagawa, yajirō, viscount, 品川, 弥二郎, november, 1843, february, 1900, chōshū, domain, samurai, became, home, minister, early, meiji, period, japan, viscount, born, 1843, november, 1843hagi, yamaguchi, japandiedfebruary, 1900, 1900, aged, tokyo, japannationalit. Viscount Shinagawa Yajirō 品川 弥二郎 November 20 1843 February 26 1900 was a Chōshu Domain samurai who became Home Minister in early Meiji period Japan Shinagawa YajirōViscount Shinagawa YajirōBorn 1843 11 20 November 20 1843Hagi Yamaguchi JapanDiedFebruary 26 1900 1900 02 26 aged 56 Tokyo JapanNationalityJapaneseOccupation s Politician Cabinet MinisterIn this Japanese name the surname is Shinagawa Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography EditShinagawa was born in Hagi in former Chōshu Domain present day Yamaguchi Prefecture His father was an ashigaru or lower ranking foot soldier in the service of the Mōri clan During the Bakumatsu period he attended Yoshida Shōin s Shoka Sonjuku Academy and was a fervent supporter of the Sonnō jōi movement 1 In 1862 together with other pro Sonnō jōi Chōshu samurai he was a participant in an attack on the British legation in Edo He was also present at the unsuccessful Hamaguri rebellion in Kyoto in August 1864 During the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration he served as a staff officer in the Imperial armies in various battles against the remnants of Tokugawa shogunate forces in the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei in northern Honshu He is also credited with writing the lyrics of Miyasan Miyasan 宮さん宮さん also known as Tonyare Bushi a humorous loyalist song that was popular during the Boshin War 2 After the establishment of the Meiji government Shinagawa was sent to France for studies arriving in Paris in 1870 where he was thus able to experience modern western military technologies and strategy during the Franco Prussian War firsthand After his return to Japan he was appointed Chief Secretary of the Home Ministry later rising to the post of Junior Vice Home Minister followed by the position of Senior Vice Agriculture and Commerce Minister He supported the development of agriculture and forestry through his efforts towards the formation of Credit unions and agricultural cooperatives 3 He later briefly returned to Germany as a diplomat In 1891 Shinagawa was appointed Home Minister in cabinet of Prime Minister Matsukata Masayoshi Bronze statue of Shinagawa at Yasukuni Shrine During the tumultuous Japanese General Election of 1892 Shinagawa responded to indirect criticism from Emperor Meiji of the failure of the Diet of Japan to reach an agreement on the national budget by accusing opposition political parties of sedition and using his authority as Home Minister to take police action to suppress opposition political party activities during the election and to intimidate candidates and voters 4 The resulting riots and other public disturbances around Japan led to numerous deaths and injuries and the election itself was marred by balloting irregularities Shinagawa came under much public criticism over the course of events and was forced to resign from his post 5 After his resignation together with fellow former Home Minister Saigō Tsugumichi Shinagawa founded the conservative Kokumin Kyōkai political party serving as its vice president Shinagawa was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun 1st class posthumously in 1900 A large bronze statue of Shinagawa is located to the left of the main entrance to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo 6 See also EditList of Japanese ministers envoys and ambassadors to GermanyReferences Edit Huber The Revolutionary Origins of Modern Japan Page 97 1 National Diet Library Bio Large Showa Japan Page 358 Schencking Making Waves Page 61 62 Keane Emperor of Japan Meiji and His World pages 460 463 Yasukuni Shrine Tokyo Archived from the original on 2010 09 16 Retrieved 2010 07 21 Further reading EditHane Mikiso Modern Japan A Historical Survey Westview Press 2001 ISBN 0 8133 3756 9 Huber Thomas The Revolutionary Origins of Modern Japan Stanford University Press 1991 ISBN 0 8047 1755 9 Jansen Marius B 2000 The Making of Modern Japan Cambridge Harvard University Press ISBN 9780674003347 OCLC 44090600 Keene Donald 2002 Emperor of Japan Meiji and His World 1852 1912 New York Columbia University Press ISBN 978 0 231 12340 2 OCLC 46731178 Large Stephen S Shōwa Japan Political Economic and Social History 1926 1989 Taylor amp Francis 1998 ISBN 0 415 14320 9 Schencking J Charles Making Waves Politics Propaganda And The Emergence Of The Imperial Japanese Navy 1868 1922 Stanford University Press 2005 ISBN 0 8047 4977 9External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shinagawa Yajirō National Diet Library BioPolitical officesPreceded bySaigō Tsugumichi Home MinisterJune 1891 March 1892 Succeeded bySoejima Taneomi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shinagawa Yajirō amp oldid 1105537979, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
