Meirokusha

The Society of the Famous Six

March 1874 - November 1875

Fukuzawa Yukichi(1834-1901)

Mori Arinori(1847-1889)

• Satsuma samurai• Ambassador to U.S,

early 1870s• Ambassador to Qing

China (1875-78), England (1879-84)

• Minister of Education, 1885-

• Assassinated 1889

Nakamura Masanao(1832-1891)

• Edo native• Confucian teacher• Sent to London by

Tokugawa, 1866-68• Translator: Sam.

Smiles’ Self Help; J.S.Mill’s On Liberty

• 1874 became Christian

Tsuda Mamichi(1829-1903)

• Okayama samurai• Bakufu school teacher

in Western Learning• Studied economics

and law in Holland, 1862-65

• Legal expert in Meiji Ministries (Justice, Foreign Affairs, War)

Katô Hiroyuki(1836-1916)

• Hyôgo samurai• Bakufu student of

Western learning, mil. Sciences, German

• Early advocate of natural rights

• 1880s grew conservative (e.g., restricted electorate)

Civilization game

Civilization and enlightenment

• 1872 exposition 1877 exhibition

Adoption of Western culture

• Koyama Shôtarô’s portrait of his mentor, Kawakami Tôgai, 1881

• Technical Art School, Tokyo, founded 1876

Adoption of Western culture

• Tokyo Music Academy (1898-1912)

• Military bands• Folk songs in

school curricula

Rokumeikan, late 1880s diplomatic reception hall

Kôchi city street, 1878

Ginza, 1876