Hanabusa Yoshitada
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese politician, diplomat and peer.
retainer of Okayama Domain
and the first mayor of the city of Okayama, Japan. He studied rangaku
under the famed Ogata Kōan, and immediately after the Meiji Restoration
in 1867 was sent to Europe and North America as a student. On his return in 1870, he was accepted into the Foreign Ministry
. The same year, he was sent to Beijing
as part of the Japanese delegation negotiating the opening of diplomatic relations between the Empire of Japan
and Qing dynasty
Empire of China
.
In 1872, he served as secretary to Soejima Taneomi
during the negotiations involving the Maria Luz Incident
. Soon afterwards, he was dispatched to Saint Petersburg
to assist Enomoto Takeaki
in negotiating the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875), which formalized the border between Japan and the Empire of Russia.
In 1877, Hanabusa was sent to Busan
to oversee the opening of that port as per the terms of the Treaty of Ganghwa
signed the previous year with Joseon dynasty
Korea
. In 1879, Hanabusa was the first Japanese diplomat to take up residence and to establish a permanent legation in Seoul
.
Hanabusa was subsequently known for his involvement in the "Imo incident
," which was a military revolt of some units of the Korea
n military in Seoul on July 23, 1882. While the exact causes and details of the incident remain a topic of controversy, violence did erupt, and Hanabusa and his aides were forced to flee the legation, and were rescued by a British ship, the Flying Fish then in port at Chemulpo
.
The Japanese government immediately sent Hanabusa back to Seoul, with his security ensured by four warships, three cargo ships and a battalion of armed soldiers. Hanabusa was the chief Japanese negotiator for the Treaty of Chemulpo, which permitted the permanent stationing of Japanese troops in Seoul.
In November 1882, Hanabusa was transferred from Korea to St. Petersburg as Japanese ambassador to Russia.
In July 1887, Hanabusa returned to Tokyo, where he was made a councilor to the Imperial Household Ministry
. In 1900, he was accorded the title of baron
(danshaku) under the kazoku
peerage system. In September 1907, his rank was elevated to Viscount
(shishaku).
In December 1911, Hanabusa was made a privy councillor
. In December 1912, he became Chairman of the Japanese Red Cross
.
Viscount Hanabusa died on July 9, 1917.
Biography
Hanabusa was the eldest son of Hanabusa Tanren, a samuraiSamurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
retainer of Okayama Domain
Okayama Domain
The ' was a Japanese feudal domain of the Edo period, located in modern-day Okayama Prefecture. The domain sided with the Kyoto government during the Boshin War.-List of Daimyo:*Kobayakawa clan, 1600-1602 #Hideaki...
and the first mayor of the city of Okayama, Japan. He studied rangaku
Rangaku
Rangaku is a body of knowledge developed by Japan through its contacts with the Dutch enclave of Dejima, which allowed Japan to keep abreast of Western technology and medicine in the period when the country was closed to foreigners, 1641–1853, because of the Tokugawa shogunate’s policy of national...
under the famed Ogata Kōan, and immediately after the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
in 1867 was sent to Europe and North America as a student. On his return in 1870, he was accepted into the Foreign Ministry
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)
The is a cabinet level ministry of Japan responsible for the country's foreign relations.The ministry is due to the second term of the third article of the National Government Organization Act , and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Establishment Act establishes the ministry...
. The same year, he was sent to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
as part of the Japanese delegation negotiating the opening of diplomatic relations between the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
and Qing dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
Empire of China
Late Imperial China
Late Imperial China refers to the period between the end of Mongol rule in 1368 and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912 and includes the Ming and Qing Dynasties...
.
In 1872, he served as secretary to Soejima Taneomi
Soejima Taneomi
was a diplomat and statesman during early Meiji period Japan.-Biography:Soejima was born into a samurai family in Saga, in Hizen province . His father was a teacher in the domain's school and a scholar of National Learning . In 1866, Soejima was sent to Nagasaki by the domain leaders to study the...
during the negotiations involving the Maria Luz Incident
María Luz Incident
The was a diplomatic incident between the early Meiji government of the Empire of Japan and the Republic of Peru over a merchant ship with Chinese indentured labourers in Yokohama in 1872...
. Soon afterwards, he was dispatched to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
to assist Enomoto Takeaki
Enomoto Takeaki
Viscount was a samurai and admiral of the Tokugawa navy of Bakumatsu period Japan, who remained faithful to the Tokugawa shogunate who fought against the new Meiji government until the end of the Boshin War...
in negotiating the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875), which formalized the border between Japan and the Empire of Russia.
In 1877, Hanabusa was sent to Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
to oversee the opening of that port as per the terms of the Treaty of Ganghwa
Treaty of Ganghwa
The Japan-Korea Treaty of Amity, also known as the Treaty of Ganghwa or Treaty of Kanghwa, was made between representatives of the Empire of Japan and the Kingdom of Joseon in 1876...
signed the previous year with Joseon dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. In 1879, Hanabusa was the first Japanese diplomat to take up residence and to establish a permanent legation in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
Hanabusa was subsequently known for his involvement in the "Imo incident
Imo Incident
The Imo Incident, also known as Imo mutiny, was a military revolt of some units of the Korean military in Incheon on July 23, 1882.-Background:A variety of causes for this brief disturbance have been put forward...
," which was a military revolt of some units of the Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n military in Seoul on July 23, 1882. While the exact causes and details of the incident remain a topic of controversy, violence did erupt, and Hanabusa and his aides were forced to flee the legation, and were rescued by a British ship, the Flying Fish then in port at Chemulpo
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
.
The Japanese government immediately sent Hanabusa back to Seoul, with his security ensured by four warships, three cargo ships and a battalion of armed soldiers. Hanabusa was the chief Japanese negotiator for the Treaty of Chemulpo, which permitted the permanent stationing of Japanese troops in Seoul.
In November 1882, Hanabusa was transferred from Korea to St. Petersburg as Japanese ambassador to Russia.
In July 1887, Hanabusa returned to Tokyo, where he was made a councilor to the Imperial Household Ministry
Imperial Household Agency
The is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal...
. In 1900, he was accorded the title of baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
(danshaku) under the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
peerage system. In September 1907, his rank was elevated to Viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
(shishaku).
In December 1911, Hanabusa was made a privy councillor
Privy Council (Japan)
was an advisory council to the Emperor of Japan that operated from 1888 to 1947.-Functions:Modeled in part upon the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, this body advised the throne on matters of grave importance including:...
. In December 1912, he became Chairman of the Japanese Red Cross
Japanese Red Cross
The ' is the Japanese affiliate of the International Red Cross.The Imperial Family of Japan traditionally has supported the society, with Empress as Honorary President and other royal family members as vice-presidents. Its headquarters is located in Tokyo and local chapters are set up in all 47...
.
Viscount Hanabusa died on July 9, 1917.
External links
- National Diet Library, 国立国会図書館 憲政資料室 花房義質関係文書（ＭＦ：首都大学東京図書情報センター蔵）