History of Asia

[Hirofumi Ito] From a farmer to the first Prime Minister! The deciding factor is that you can speak English?

2024 With the issuance of new banknotes, the great portraits will also become New Face.

"The great men of the 1000-yen bill" This time, the second time, Hirobumi Ito ( Hirobumi Ito ) I will introduce you.

The 1st Yamato Takeru And Prince Shotoku Shotokutai Click here for more information!

Hirobumi Ito is a priest at the end of the Edo period who lived in the same period as Ryoma Sakamoto and others!

New banknotes will be issued due to a series of counterfeit bills!

November 1963 Hirobumi Ito's 1000-yen bill However, the reason is Prince Shotoku's old 1000-yen bill . Counterfeit Banknotes Was due to the frequent occurrence.

And the final deciding factor was "Chi" which means 1000 yen bill in the police code, "Chi-37 case" named as the 37th counterfeit bill case of 1000 yen bill strong> Is what happened. Looking at this, the counterfeit bill incidents happened quite often.

The "Chi-37 Incident" is 1961 When a fake 1000-yen note was discovered in Akita Prefecture, 343 fake notes from all over the country in just two years. Was discovered.

Although the counterfeit notes this time had a slight difference in texture and thickness compared to the real ones, they were so elaborate that it would be difficult to distinguish them if you picked them up.

Although the person who seems to be the criminal has been witnessed many times, the change to a new banknote has resulted in prescription without arresting the criminal. I have done it.

This case is "the best work of art in the history of Japanese counterfeit notes" Is even said.

What kind of person is Hirobumi Ito?

1841 , Suo Province ( Suonokuni ) Born in (currently Yamaguchi Prefecture) as the eldest son of his father who is a farmer. Choshu Clan is.
Sengoku warrior who became a worldly man from a peasant, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ( Toyotomi Hideyoshi ) It's a background similar to Mr. Mr. Ito has become the prime minister.

What is "Ito Hirobumi"? ( Everyone ) It was a so-called real name, and at this time it was an era when I didn't give my real name, so " Risuke ( " Risuke ) " Shunsuke ( Shunsuke ) I was calling myself.

Around 13 years old His father was adopted by the Ito family in Ashigaru because his house was poor.

His name was also "Ito". Originally "Mr. Hayashi" What is it?

Speaking of the Choshu clan, Yoshida Shoin ( Yoshida Shoin ) " Shokasonjuku ( " Shokasonjuku ) Is famous.

It is no exaggeration to say that all the Choshu clan who were active at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate were from this cram school.

Mr. Ito is also from this cram school, but he is said to have been listening while standing outside because he was low in status. He is himself, not because he was being bullied separately.

Around 18 , The elder of the Edo Shogunate, Naosuke Ii ( Ii Naosuke ) " Ansei Purge ( " Ansei no Taigo ) When his teacher, Shoin Yoshida, was beheaded due to his sacrifice, Mr. Ito and other Choshu clan scholars Sonnojoi ( That's good ) I will be active in exercise.

Around 22 Decided to travel abroad and was selected as one of the five study abroad students in England by the clan's order.

In England, while learning English, we tour naval facilities and factories and witness the difference in national power from Japan.

The University of London has "Choshu Five" As Honoring Monument ( Kenshohi ) Is being built.

However, less than half a year after arriving in England, he hurriedly returned to Japan when he learned that the Choshu clan was in danger.

After returning to Japan, Mr. Ito will make an effort to avoid the war, but "Shimonoseki War" So the Choshu clan was attacked by the United States, Britain, France, and the Orchid Four-Country Combined Fleet.

Shinsaku Takasugi who is the leader of the Choshu clan who was entrusted with peace negotiations ( Takasugi Shinsaku ) I have succeeded in negotiations as an interpreter.

The relationship between the two is deep, and "Choshu expedition" from the imperial court and the shogunate. It was Mr. Ito who rushed under Mr. Takasugi who tried to cause a coup d'etat against the Choshu clan who was showing his order.

"The only thing I can be proud of in my life is that I rushed to Mr. Takasugi first at that time."

Later, Mr. Ito said:

The Meiji era when he became the first Prime Minister!

Steadily on the path to success in English!

Around 26 years old , The Edo Shogunate returned the administration to the imperial court, and the world of samurai, which lasted about 670 years, is over. This is " Taisei Hokan ( Taisei Hokan ) is.

One month later, " Restoration ( " Ousei Fukko ) Due to the destruction of the Edo Shogunate, the establishment of a new government, and this triggered the conflict between the old Shogunate army and the new government army " Boshin ( Boshin ) War " Has happened.

Actually, at that time, Mr. Ito was not showing any outstanding performance because his main job was to negotiate with foreign merchants and other clan to purchase weapons. On the contrary, being able to speak English backfired.

However, there will be an incident in which Mr. Ito, who had spared such time, can demonstrate his power.

At the same time as the Boshin War began, Japanese foreigner murders in Kobe and Osaka Happened.

In both cases, the Japanese side stopped the rude behavior of foreigners, but it was the worst ending because they could not understand the language.

The parties who caused the problem seppuku I showed a solution by doing this, but this impresses foreigners with seppuku.

Mr. Ito, who struggled to resolve these cases, caught the eye of the then Foreign Minister (currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs) and used it as a stepping stone to his career, and the new government after the Meiji Restoration bought proficiency in English. You will be in various important positions. Speaking English has always been the biggest spec.

Inaugurated as the first Prime Minister!

Meiji 4 , "Iwakura Mission" for the purpose of revising inequality treaties with other countries and investigating Western civilization Participated in and gave a speech in San Francisco.

In addition to this, I will travel abroad many times and make use of what I have learned in the Meiji government.

"Three Great Nobles of the Restoration" who played an active part in the Meiji Restoration at the end of the Edo period Kido Takayoshi ( Kido Takayoshi ) , Saigo Takamori ( Saigo Utakari ) , Toshimichi Okubo ( Okubo Toshimichi ) When he died one after another, he began to exert his power as a leader of the Meiji government.

Meiji 15 years around 41 years old , Go to Germany for constitutional investigation. There he learned about historical law and administration, and after returning to Japan, the cabinet system continues to this day. Was founded and was the first in Asia to establish a modern constitution I will proceed.

3 years later , Who first Prime Minister when the cabinet system is launched Attention will be focused on whether it will be.

Daijo-daijin ( Minister ) Sanjo Sanetomi who was at the top of the government as ( Sanjo Sanetomi ) Was considered to be influential. Mr. Sanetomi was born in the Sanjo family, which is also a high-ranking public family, and has the highest status. On the other hand, Mr. Ito was in a position to actually run the government, but he was a low-ranked farmer.

However, at the meeting to decide the Prime Minister, Mr. Ito's ally,

"The future prime minister must be able to read English!"

Everyone agreed, and Mr. Ito became the first Prime Minister. You have demonstrated your English skills here as well.

Assassination in China!

After becoming Prime Minister, he struggled to promulgate the Constitution, and "Meiji Constitution" Is February 22nd year of Meiji Promulgated in November 2011 It was enforced in.

Current "Constitution of Japan" It survived for more than half a century before it came into force, without any revision.

Mr. Ito served as the first Prime Minister and four times Prime Minister in his fifth, seventh, and teenage years . ..

"Sino-Japanese War" at the time of the Second Ito Cabinet However, three years after the resignation of the Fourth Cabinet, "Russo-Japanese War" Is outbreak. In both cases, Japan will rule the victory, but will struggle with post-war processing with both countries.

Meiji 38 around the age of 65 , Japan, which has seized control of Korea (Korean Empire), is Korean Resident-General ( Kankoku and Kanfu ) When I set up, Mr. Ito became the first lord-lieutenant Did.

Based on the treaty, Japan annexed South Korea and put it under control, but Mr. Ito has a negative idea about this, and it is a protectorate . Was supposed to be.

For Japanese teachers who have been assigned to Korea, "Educate children with sincerity and kindness, religion is free for Koreans, and learn Korean." I was advised.

Even in front of reporters, "Japan does not need to merge South Korea!" I am giving a speech.

But October four years later Shooting by South Korean activists at Harbin Station in China, visited to discuss the Korean issue with Russia in secret It has been done.

When I was informed that it was a Korean who shot me,

"Shoot me, you're a stupid guy ..." I muttered.

What were your thoughts on this?