Born into a samurai family of the Morioka domain in Mutsu (Iwate).
He entered Sapporo Agricultural College, studying alongside Uchimura Kanzō, and became a Christian.
On entering the University of Tokyo he reportedly said he wished to become "a bridge across the Pacific".
He studied in the United States and Germany.
Married to the American Mary Elkinton, he returned home and became a professor at Sapporo Agricultural College.
He wrote Bushido: The Soul of Japan in English, which was read around the world.
He became headmaster of the First Higher School, devoting himself to educating the young.
He became the first president of Tokyo Woman's Christian University.
He became Under-Secretary-General of the League of Nations, working for world peace.
After attending an international conference, he died of illness in Canada.
Ōyama SutematsuUchimura KanzōTanabe SakurōMori ŌgaiOkakura Kakuzō (Tenshin)Tsuda UmekoFutabatei ShimeiKawakami Otojirō
People of the Meiji period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.