Hanshichi Yamaguchi

2023/04/19

Image: From "Yamaguchi-o: Oita-ken no Kishuku" (The Venerable Yamaguchi: A Distinguished Resident of Oita Prefecture)

Ryukei Yano (Fumio), who wrote the preface to the autobiography of Hanshichi Yamaguchi, evaluated him by stating, "People from Nakatsu have many footholds in the business world due to their connections with Yukichi Fukuzawa and Hikojiro Nakamigawa; therefore, it is not difficult for them to establish themselves when they enter it." He suggested that if Yamaguchi had fully committed to the business world, his wealth and fame would likely have been dozens of times greater than they were.

After gaining business experience starting with the Keio University Publishing Bureau, he became a politician out of concern for the hardships of the political world. He supported Nakatsu—the hometown of Fukuzawa—in both politics and the economy, and maintained a close friendship with Fukuzawa throughout his life. However, along with his father Hiroe, he is a figure who is rarely mentioned in previous research. This article provides an overview of Hanshichi, who was a leading figure in the political and business circles of Oita Prefecture.

Hanshichi Yamaguchi was born in 1853 in Nakatsu Takajomachi. His father was Hiroe Yamaguchi, who was close to Fukuzawa, and his mother was Den, the eldest daughter of Riha Tojo. His childhood name was Katsumi, but he changed it to Hanshichi when his father changed his own name after the Meiji Restoration. He was sickly as a child and spent much of his time indoors, but from the age of six, he studied Chinese classics under Engen Hashimoto, who was Fukuzawa's uncle-in-law. He stayed and studied at Engen's private school, Seikyudo. While he was not good at swordsmanship or jujutsu, he reportedly showed talent in Chinese classics. He also received instruction in gunnery from Kakuzo Hamano, the father of Teishiro Hamano, who served as President of Keio University. Kakuzo was a master of gunnery who was knowledgeable in arithmetic and metallurgy, and was a student of Shuhan Takashima. Hanshichi was born in the year of Perry's arrival, and due to the social climate of the time, studying gunnery abroad was permitted and actively pursued in Nakatsu. Under his father, who was well-informed about world affairs, Hanshichi had the opportunity to encounter various fields of study.

Hanshichi celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony at 14, a year earlier than usual, to accompany his father Hiroe on his assignment to Edo. At that time, there were two types of domain orders for going to Edo: "zaiban," which involved staying in Edo for one year to perform duties, and "tachikaeri," which involved returning home as soon as the business was finished. Hiroe was ordered to do the latter. While it was unusual to bring a son along for such a short trip, it seems Hiroe intended to enroll Hanshichi in Fukuzawa's Juku. Hiroe and Hanshichi traveled to Osaka by sea and met with domain executives at the Osaka warehouse. However, due to sudden changes in the situation, such as the expedition to Choshu, Hiroe's trip to the capital was canceled, and Hanshichi's enrollment in Keio University did not come to fruition. Subsequently, while serving as an artilleryman, he continued his studies at Seikyudo.

When Hanshichi was 17, another opportunity to enter Keio University arrived. Yukichi Fukuzawa returned to Nakatsu with his nephew, Hikojiro Nakamigawa. At that time, Hanshichi was considering going to Hiji for training in Chinese classics, but he was moved by "Yukichi Fukuzawa's persuasion and Nakamigawa's argument that Chinese classics were useless," changed his plans, and hurriedly went to Tokyo. Hanshichi left an account of Fukuzawa's party during their journey to Tokyo in his autobiography, which paints a picture of young men heading toward a new era. For example, Hanshichi and the others from Nakatsu had the appearance of samurai with topknots (chasen-mage), haori and hakama, and two swords, but Fukuzawa and Nakamigawa already had short hair and wore casual kimonos. Nakamigawa carried one sword, but Fukuzawa was reportedly unarmed.

Furthermore, Nakamigawa told Hanshichi that samurai attire like his would already be a laughingstock in Tokyo, and encouraged him to cut his hair, calling it the "baptism of civilization." Nakamigawa pressed Hanshichi and the others, saying, "I'll be your barber," but his skills were apparently poor. Hanshichi, who was reluctant, and Nakamigawa, who was trying to cut the hair for fun, shouted at each other, saying "You're unskilled!" and "You're a coward!" It eventually turned into a major commotion involving Fukuzawa's mother, Jun, and Hanshichi ended up with a hairstyle like a spotted cat.

He also records that Eiji Asabuki, who was devoted to National Learning at the time, debated with Fukuzawa dozens of times but was refuted, eventually surrendering and accompanying them to Tokyo. The group included sons of high-ranking samurai, but these episodes convey the lively atmosphere of young men going to study in Tokyo, transcending the barriers of social rank.

After arriving safely in Tokyo, Hanshichi entered Keio University in Shinsenza. Hanshichi was enrolled from 1869 to 1872, learning from Fukuzawa and Tokujirō Obata. Hanshichi seems to have picked up on the spirit of "learning while teaching, teaching while learning," and was impressed by the fact that Fukuzawa and Obata's names were listed alongside the Keio students, and that there was no fixed graduation year.

He entered the school around the time Keio University moved to Mita, and he studied while living in the dormitory and supervising repair work. Later, he returned to Nakatsu, accompanying Tokujirō Obata, who took up a post as the first principal of the Nakatsu City School. However, he frequently went to Tokyo and stayed within Keio to continue his studies. Around this time, because many of Fukuzawa's works were being sold, he became involved in the establishment of the Keio University Publishing Bureau along with Asabuki and others. When profits were expected and business performance stabilized, Hanshichi was put in charge of opening a Shimonoseki branch as a Kansai base, marking his first step into the business world. Although the Shimonoseki branch was not successful, he subsequently entered several other businesses, including the dry goods trade, and lived a life traveling between Nakatsu, Osaka, and Tokyo.

It seems Fukuzawa supported these business ventures; Hanshichi recalls asking Fukuzawa when he was in a good mood to introduce him to the Governor of Kyoto Prefecture. Additionally, along with his father Hiroe, he worked to improve transportation networks to facilitate the movement of goods between Hita and Nakatsu. He also participated in the management of the "Inaka Shinbun" (Country Newspaper), which was started by Fukuzawa's second cousin Sotaro Masuda and became a breeding ground for the Freedom and People's Rights Movement. Thus, Hanshichi devoted himself to the development of Nakatsu from an early stage.

Around 1877, Hanshichi was mainly active in the business world, but after the Political Crisis of 1881, he moved into the political sphere. The Freedom and People's Rights Movement was active in Nakatsu, and while Hanshichi's relatives reportedly supported the Liberal Party, Hanshichi himself, as someone following the lineage of Keio University, wanted to contribute to society strictly from a business perspective. Since Hanshichi's father, Hiroe, was an extremely capable financial official, Hanshichi may have been influenced by his father, as he had a strong interest in finance and the economy.

However, upon learning that bureaucrats from Keio University had been dismissed due to the Political Crisis of 1881, Hanshichi changed his mind, believing that while improving business was necessary, political improvement should be the root of it, and he became interested in politics. In 1882, he participated in the formation of the Hoshu Constitutional Progressive Party and thereafter became active as a prefectural assembly member, serving energetically as vice-chairman from 1888. Hanshichi's autobiography contains detailed accounts of his activities as a local legislator, including the state of the prefectural assembly, meetings with Shigenobu Okuma, and negotiations with central political circles.

In 1890, when the Imperial Edict for the Establishment of the Diet was issued, election preparations became active, and Hanshichi was drawn into them. In May of that year, Hanshichi was summoned to an election council in Oita and Nakatsu and went to Tokyo. The council members included Eiji Asabuki and Tokujirō Obata, and discussions were held regarding candidates to run for the Oita 6th District of the House of Representatives. There was Hanshichi and one other candidate, and since the two were close, election adjustments were reportedly made.

Letters from Fukuzawa remain regarding this candidacy for the House of Representatives. In a letter dated July 8, 1890, addressed to Hanshichi's father Hiroe, Fukuzawa maintained a calm stance, describing the nationwide craze for the election as "either children's play or adults' madness." Later, regarding a by-election after the candidate who defeated Hanshichi passed away, Fukuzawa sent letters to Hiroe and Hanshichi advising Hanshichi to abandon his candidacy, citing concerns that his local reputation might not be favorable.

Hanshichi was elected in the 3rd House of Representatives election in 1894. People who had studied at the Nakatsu City School or Keio University cooperated in Hanshichi's election campaign, suggesting that a faction centered on Fukuzawa and Keio University had emerged in Nakatsu and Oita. However, Hanshichi lost in the 4th election, ending his short term as a member of the Diet.

After finishing his term as a member of the House of Representatives, Hanshichi briefly retired but returned to the political and business circles of Oita Prefecture, triggered by the silk reeling industry. In 1895, he became the president of the Hoju Silk Reeling Company, which was founded through the efforts of influential figures in Nakatsu. Regarding the spinning and silk reeling industries in Nakatsu, companies had been established under the leadership of Fukuzawa and Obata, and female workers were actively sent to the Tomioka Silk Mill for training. However, it was decided to establish a more modern and large-scale factory, and Hanshichi was elected as the representative.

Thereafter, Hanshichi became involved in companies such as Yabakei Railway, as well as spinning, gas, cement, and other railways. He also worked diligently on banking; during the establishment of the Oita Agricultural and Industrial Bank, he used his connections to arrange for shareholders, and later became its president. Regarding Hanshichi's business activities from the late 1890s onward, rather than actively moving to establish them himself, he was often asked to participate as a coordinator. His autobiography highlights descriptions of personnel mediation and coordination with political party factions more than the business content itself. He did not completely retire from politics either; during the split of the Rikken Kokuminto (Constitutional Nationalist Party) and the establishment of the Rikken Doshikai (Constitutional Association of Friends), he was seen traveling between Nakatsu and Tokyo, active and energetic.

Furthermore, during the reorganization of Oita Bank, he worked alongside Toyoji Wada and Junnosuke Inoue to compensate for huge losses and rebuild the bank. They approached several banks, including Yasuda Bank, but received no favorable responses. When both Wada and Yamaguchi were at a loss, the Hirooka family came to their rescue.

The Hirooka family was of the lineage of the wealthy merchant Kajimaya, which had managed the Nakatsu Domain's warehouses as a purveyor since the Edo period. Hanshichi had connections with employees of Daido Life Insurance Company and Kajima Bank, and since Kajima Bank was considering expanding into Kyushu, he proposed approaching the Hirooka family. At a meeting held at Inoue's residence between Keizo Hirooka, Hanshichi, Wada, and Inoue, the response was taken under consideration. Although Kajima Bank initially declined due to Oita Bank's poor management situation, Hanshichi stayed in Tokyo for a long time to continue negotiations and eventually turned the situation around. These efforts bore fruit, and Oita Bank newly opened on January 29, 1924.

After Hanshichi retired in 1929, he spent the rest of his life mainly in Beppu. Hanshichi's eldest son, Ryukichi, was born around the time of the Satsuma Rebellion, and his son, Kazuo Yamaguchi, became a diplomat and later published a book regarding Fukuzawa's travels abroad.