Who was this person?
A physician and politician of the Meiji to early Shōwa eras. Born in Mizusawa, Mutsu Province, he moved from medicine into public health administration at the Home Ministry. He served as civil administrator of the Taiwan Government-General, first president of the South Manchuria Railway and mayor of Tokyo, and after the Great Kantō Earthquake drew up a large-scale reconstruction plan as head of the Imperial Capital Reconstruction Agency. His grand visions earned him the nickname Big Furoshiki.
| Name | Gotō Shinpei (後藤新平) |
|---|---|
| Born–died | 1857 – 1929 |
| Period | Late Edo–Shōwa |
| Birthplace | Mizusawa, Isawa District, Mutsu Province (now Ōshū, Iwate) |
| Main achievements |
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He was born in Mizusawa in Mutsu Province, now Ōshū in Iwate, into a family of retainers serving the Sendai domain. Among his relatives was the Dutch-learning scholar Takano Chōei. Because Sendai was defeated by the new government in the Meiji Restoration, the family was in a hard position, and his boyhood was far from easy.
Around this time his talent was recognized by Yasuba Yasukazu, an official posted to Mizusawa, who took him in as a houseboy-student. Another such student was Saitō Makoto, later prime minister. Yasuba's support opened the path of learning to him, and he later married Yasuba's daughter.
He entered the Sukagawa medical school in Fukushima and studied Western medicine. He is said to have wanted to become a politician, but on the advice of those around him chose to become a doctor. Diligent and with good grades, after graduating he worked at a hospital in Aichi and grew as a physician.
He received the unusual appointment of principal of the Aichi medical school and director of its hospital at the same time. Though still in his early twenties, he eagerly tackled hospital reform and medical education. He came to believe that protecting people's health required organizing national and local systems.
When Itagaki Taisuke, leader of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, was attacked and injured in Gifu, he rushed to treat him. Itagaki is said to have admired his talent and remarked that it was a pity to leave him as a mere doctor. That same year he joined the Home Ministry's Hygiene Bureau and became involved in national public health administration.
He went to study in Germany at his own expense, learning hygiene and systems of government, and earned a medical doctorate. After returning he became head of the Hygiene Bureau in 1892. The following year he was drawn into a dispute over the former Sōma lords and held for about half a year, but was later acquitted. This setback was a great trial.
To keep soldiers returning from the First Sino-Japanese War from bringing infectious diseases home, he directed a huge quarantine operation under Kodama Gentarō of the army. He completed the quarantine of over 200,000 men in a short time, and his skill was highly praised. This began his close bond with Kodama.
Called by Kodama Gentarō, the new governor-general of Taiwan, he became head of civil affairs of the Government-General of Taiwan. He carried out land and population surveys, built railways, ports and water and sewer systems, and worked on disease prevention. He is known for the principle of studying local customs thoroughly before making policy.
He became the first president of the South Manchuria Railway, founded after the Russo-Japanese War, developing hospitals, schools and towns along with the railway. In 1908 he became Minister of Communications and head of the Railway Agency, working to improve railways nationwide. His fondness for grand plans earned him the nickname big furoshiki.
He became Home Minister in the Terauchi Masatake cabinet, and as Foreign Minister in 1918 was involved in the Siberian Intervention. The next year he also became president of Takushoku University, devoting himself to training young people. Work that had begun in medicine and hygiene had spread to national politics as a whole.
Becoming mayor of Tokyo, he drew up grand plans for roads, parks and water and sewer systems, and set up an institute to study municipal government. In 1922 he became the first head of the Boy Scouts of Japan, supporting the scouting movement, and is said to have been loved by children.
When the Great Kantō Earthquake devastated Tokyo, he became Home Minister and head of the Imperial Capital Reconstruction Agency and drew up the reconstruction plan. Though its budget was sharply cut, wide roads and parks such as Shōwa-dōri and Sumida Park were created, forming the framework of today's Tokyo.
As president of the Tokyo Broadcasting Station, he gave the greeting at the start of Japan's first radio broadcasts, saying broadcasting would serve people's lives and culture. In 1928 he visited the Soviet Union himself and met its leader Stalin, working for Japan's relations with other countries until late in life.
Traveling west by train to give a lecture, he collapsed from a brain illness and died in Kyoto in April. He valued self-government and is said to have left the words that one who has been helped by others should in turn help others. A doctor turned statesman, he left a great mark on city planning.
A. A physician and politician of the Meiji to early Shōwa eras. Born in Mizusawa, Mutsu Province, he moved from medicine into public health administration at the Home Ministry. He served as civil administrator of the Taiwan Government-General, first president of the South Manchuria Railway and mayor of Tokyo, and after the Great Kantō Earthquake drew up a large-scale reconstruction plan as head of the Imperial Capital Reconstruction Agency. His grand visions earned him the nickname Big Furoshiki.
A. Period: Late Edo–Shōwa. Born in 1857, died in 1929.
A. Gotō Shinpei was born in Mizusawa, Isawa District, Mutsu Province (now Ōshū, Iwate).
A. Based on the reconstruction plan after the Great Kantō Earthquake, wide roads such as Shōwa-dōri and Yasukuni-dōri, parks such as Sumida Park, and bridges over the Sumida River were built. Though the original budget was greatly cut, they form part of the framework of today’s Tokyo.
See also: Wikipedia (ja) / Wikipedia (en) / Wikipedia (fr) / Wikipedia (zh) / Wikidata
Follow this life (autoplay)Takano ChōeiItagaki TaisukeKodama GentarōYamamoto GonbeeTerauchi Masatake
Terauchi MasatakeTakahashi KorekiyoInukai TsuyoshiHara TakashiOzaki YukioKatō TakaakiKatō TomosaburōMakino Tomitarō
People of the Taishō period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.