Outline

OKUBO Toshimichi and the Times He Lived in
Period Tuesday,October 6 –Sunday, December 6, 2015
Venue Special Exhibition Galleries A&B, National Museum of Japanese History
Admissions

Adults: ¥830 (¥560)
Senior high school & college students: ¥450 (¥250)
* Fees in parentheses apply to groups of 20 or more
* Admission to permanent exhibitions included
* Free admission for elementary & junior high school students
* Free admission for senior high school students every Saturday

Hours 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (entrance closed at 4:00 p.m.)
* Open hours and days are subject to change.
Closed Mondays (When Monday is a national holiday, the Museum is closed the following Tuesday.)
Organizer National Museum of Japanese History

Concept of the Exhibition

This is the first exhibition to present our complete collection of material relating to OKUBO Toshimichi, who led the Meiji Restoration and the establishment of modern Japan. This exhibition presents correspondence and other articles left by him to explore his life and achievements.

Exhibition Highlights

  • A wide range of historical material on ŌKUBO Toshimichi will be presented, selected from our extensive collection, including 3,000 pieces of Important Cultural Property.
  • Documents, photographs, and artifacts donated by his descendants will be showcased in this exhibition for the first time.
  • The exhibits will include his correspondence with key figures who shaped the history of Japan, such as SAIGŌ Takamori, KIDO Takayoshi, and KATSU Kaishū.
  • The exhibition will also reveal the personality of ŌKUBO Toshimichi through his treasured items, including desk, pipe, go stones, ashtray, comb, and pocket watch.
  • Visitors will feel the spirit of the turbulent age of revolution and creation in Japan from the end of the Edo period (17th century) to the beginning of the Meiji period (late 19th century).

ŌKUBO Toshimichi (1830-1878)

ŌKUBO Toshimichi was a Japanese statesman who lived 1830-78, from the end of the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period. Born in Satsuma Domain (currently Kagoshima Prefecture), he led the anti-shogunate movement and established the Meiji Government along with SAIGŌ Takamori and other activists. In this new government, ŌKUBO was appointed as Councilor in Meiji 2 (1869) and Finance Minister in Meiji 4 (1871). He also assumed the post of Home Minister in Meiji 6 (1873), when the Ministry of Home Affairs was established. As the virtual leader of the government, he actively promoted the development of industry and the modernization of Japan. He was, however, assassinated by dissident samurais one year after suppressing the Satsuma Rebellion. He is admired as one of “three great nobles of the Restoration,” with the other two being SAIGŌ Takamori and KIDO Takayoshi.

Exhibition Lineup

* Please note that some exhibits will be replaced during the exhibition.

A photo of ŌKUBO Toshimichi, taken in London in 1872 (National Museum of Japanese History) A photo of ŌKUBO Toshimichi at the time of the Meiji Restoration, taken around 1868 (National Museum of Japanese History) Correspondence from ŌKUBO Toshimichi to SAIGŌ Takamori, dated September 23, 1865 (an item newly donated to the National Museum of Japanese History)
A photo of Ambassador Plenipotentiary IWAKURA Tomomi and deputy ambassadors dispatched to Europe and United States (National Museum of Japanese History) A gold pocket watch of ŌKUBO Toshimichi (newly donated to the National Museum of Japanese History)
A journal entry on the Namamugi Incident written by ŌKUBO Toshimichi on August 21, 1862 (Important Cultural Property held by the National Museum of Japanese History) A seal engraved “Home Minister ŌKUBO Toshimichi” (Important Cultural Property held by the National Museum of Japanese History)
A pipe of ŌKUBO Toshimichi (Important Cultural Property held by the National Museum of Japanese History) An office desk of ŌKUBO Toshimichi (newly donated to the National Museum of Japanese History)
A folding fan bestowed on ŌKUBO Toshimichi by the Meiji Emperor upon his visit to Tokyo in October 1868 (Important Cultural Property held by the National Museum of Japanese History) Correspondence from IWAKURA Tomomi to ŌKUBO Toshimichi, dated October 23, 1873 (Important Cultural Property held by the National Museum of Japanese History)
A letter (from KUSUMOTO Masataka) with blood stains from the assassination of ŌKUBO Toshimichi (Important Cultural Property held by the National Museum of Japanese History) Part of a group photo taken at a domestic industrial exhibition in 1877 (newly donated to the National Museum of Japanese History)