Kotaro Mochizuki

2018/03/01

Image: Kotaro Mochizuki (from "Okei Iko")

Among the graduates of Keio University who rose from extreme poverty to make a name for themselves through their linguistic skills and eloquence was a politician from Yamanashi named Kotaro Mochizuki. Although few people know of him today, he was a famous member of the Diet known as a sharp-tongued expert on foreign affairs from the late Meiji 40s through the Taisho era. Despite being a talented individual valued by Genro (elder statesmen) such as Hirobumi Ito, Aritomo Yamagata, and Kaoru Inoue, he turned his back on officialdom. This article explores the life of Mochizuki, who staked his convictions on parliamentary politics and private diplomacy, and his relationship with Yukichi Fukuzawa.

Kotaro Mochizuki was born on November 15, the first year of Keio (January 1, 1866), in Minobu Village, Koma District, Kai Province (now Minobu Town, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi Prefecture), as the third son of Zen'emon and Mon Mochizuki. After graduating from Minobu School, he fell into poverty following his father's death in 1880, but with the support of local dignitaries, he entered Yamanashi School (later Yamanashi Normal School). He borrowed books from friends to transcribe them and studied under the hallway lights at night. He managed to become a scholarship student and graduated from the Middle School Normal Course in 1883. After working for over a year as a teacher at Mizuho School in Yamanashi, he moved to Tokyo and, in May 1886, was appointed as a sixth-class instructor and principal (with a monthly salary of eight yen) at Hosoda Elementary School in Minamikatsushika District. He resigned the following March due to a school merger and entered Keio University on June 1, 1888.

In order to raise tuition fees while in poverty, Mochizuki translated and published "The Life of William Ewart Gladstone" with Imashiro Nagashima in September 1889. Upon learning of this, Yukichi Fukuzawa told him, "It is precisely because you have no money that your ambition is roused; work hard," and provided Mochizuki with a monthly allowance of eight yen, having him translate articles from foreign newspapers for the "Jiji Shinpo." On one occasion, when Mochizuki translated "How to drink the water" as "Mizu no nomu no chui" (Caution for drinking water), Fukuzawa pointed out, "Why not translate it as 'Mizu no nomu no心得 (kokoro-e)' (Instructions for drinking water)?" He noted that while "chui" (caution) requires some literacy to understand, "kokoro-e" (instructions/knowledge) is understood by almost anyone ("Fukuou Kunwa," Jitsugyo no Sekaisha, 1909). This was advice typical of Fukuzawa, who strove for plain writing. Furthermore, Mochizuki saw the essence of Fukuzawa in his "brave spirit of independence and self-reliance, fighting solely for the principles he believed in without leaning on others or relying on the world" (ibid.).

While the public called him "Mochikota" or "Kiza-otoko" (the affected man) and coldly criticized him as a "high-collar" (pretentious) and insufferable politician, he was renowned for his skill in public speaking. It was said that "in his manner of raising his hand, striking the desk, looking around, and capturing the audience, there is likely no one among the 700 dignitaries of both houses who surpasses him" (Yomiuri, October 10, 1907). The "Tokyo Asahi Shimbun" frequently published illustrations satirizing Mochizuki's speaking style. At public speaking events, he would stand elegantly upright on the podium with a slender face and gold-rimmed glasses, speaking resonantly in a slightly leaning-back posture. When reading notes, he would hold them in his left hand, raised diagonally, and snap on a pair of supplementary gold-rimmed glasses to read aloud (Takeshi Haga, "Testimony of Hawaiian Immigrants," San-ichi Shobo). He also spoke twice at the Mita Public Speaking Event and served as a judge for prize-winning public speaking contests.

In 1906, Mochizuki established the English News Agency. Through the publication of the "Daily English News" and translated books, he disseminated information about Japan abroad and introduced popular foreign books to Japan. In particular, "The Valor of Ignorance" by Homer Lea, which he translated as "The Inevitable War Between Japan and the United States" (1911), became a hot topic. Behind his sharp questions in the Diet was information he had gathered independently from home and abroad. Although categorized as a hardliner on foreign policy, he had influence by advocating for Ministry of Foreign Affairs reform early on based on analysis of accurate international conditions. This was to promote diplomacy based on public opinion, recognizing that the era had moved from bureaucratic diplomacy to national diplomacy. Using his assertiveness and linguistic skills, he personally negotiated with key figures overseas whenever problems arose, seeking to break the deadlock. His wife, Kayoko, who had experience studying abroad, was also fluent in English and reportedly wrote English dispatches on behalf of her sickly husband. Their domestic life was sometimes featured in magazines with photographs, making them a focus of public attention.

Mochizuki's gentlemanly figure—studying law in the UK, engaging in translation after returning home, entering the world of politics, making a name for himself through public speaking, and turning his back on officialdom until the end—is reminiscent of Tatsui Baba, whose future Fukuzawa had high hopes for before Baba died abroad in the United States. Fukuzawa spoke highly of Mochizuki, saying he was "quite talented" (Letters, Vol. 6). In March 1896, when Mochizuki visited Fukuzawa before departing for Russia, Fukuzawa showed concern for the physically weak Mochizuki, saying, "I only pray that you take very good care of yourself" (Letters, Vol. 8). The eighth anniversary memorial service where Fukuzawa praised Baba as a "model for younger students" was held on November 2 of that same year. It is likely that in Fukuzawa's eyes, Mochizuki appeared as the second coming of Baba.

Although Mochizuki had extensive overseas experience, he did not become overly Westernized. He offered prayers to Emperor Meiji and Nichiren every morning, lamented the partisan interests of political parties and the government's bystander-like diplomacy, and developed his theories and acted to realize them with faith and patriotism as his driving forces. This figure overlaps with the image of his respected Fukuzawa, "fighting for the principles he believed in."

He cherished his hometown and took the pen name Okei after Uguisudani below Minobusan Kuonji Temple, where he composed Chinese poetry (today, there is an information center called "Okeikaku" at that location). In 1915, at the age of 49, his only daughter Yoshiko (later a poet) was born. The "lonely" Mochizuki reportedly wanted to take his daughter with him wherever he went ("Karuizawa in My Heart as Told by 37 People," Karuizawa wo Kataru Kai).

Mochizuki, who had a chronic bronchial condition, collapsed from illness in April 1927 while supporting a by-election in Yamanashi. While recuperating at his home in Harajuku, Tokyo, he contracted typhoid fever from well water, which was complicated by laryngeal tuberculosis. He passed away while in office at 3:05 AM on May 19 (aged 61). A funeral service was held at Aoyama Funeral Hall from 2:00 PM on the 22nd, attended by over a thousand people. The grave of Mochizuki, a devout follower of the Nichiren sect, is located on the grounds of Take-no-bo at Mount Minobu, and to the left of the grave is a memorial monument erected in 1939. The title was written by Yukio Ozaki, the text was composed by Reijiro Wakatsuki, and the calligraphy was by Nikken Mochizuki. Although it is currently difficult to decipher due to exposure to the elements, the full text is published in "Okei Iko." At the end, it states, "He should be taken as a model for public figures of the world."

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.