Toshimichi Okubo, considered one of the "Three Great Figures of the Meiji Restoration," will be featured in the NHK E-TV educational program "How Much Did Great People Earn?" airing on April 6th at 7:30 p.m. The program will trace the life of Toshimichi Okubo, who led the Meiji Restoration and contributed greatly to Japan's modernization as a politician, through the lens of money.
One of the three great figures of the Meiji Restoration, Okubo Toshimichi, though often perceived as colder than Saigo Takamori, was actually quite passionate. During the late Edo period, he gained the trust of Shimazu Hisamitsu of the Satsuma domain, negotiating with the shogunate and the imperial court, and paving the way for the overthrow of the shogunate. In the Meiji era, he opposed the idea of invading Korea and established the path for modern Japan, proposing to enrich the country through domestic industrial development and trade. What were his true thoughts and annual income...?
The program also introduced him as "A politician we should emulate today!" It delves into his confrontations with the Shogun's council of elders, his insights gained in Germany, his relationship with Saigo, and his surprising true character.
