Norwich bulletin., 1922-01-07
MARQUIS sHIGENAoBU oKUMA.
JAPANESE STATESMAN, DEAL

Toxic. Jan. CBy the A. P.)-Marouh
ShigenaooE Okuma, Japan's octogensr
Ian statesman, died al his home here 10
day.
Shigenobu Okuma. called HachitarC
Okuma irioeais boyhood. was born in Feb
ruary 1888 at Saga. one OF the leadina
cities Of Kyushu, the most southern Of
the three great Islands Of Japan. Hs
was raised by an ideal father and mo-
ther and he began life under very for
tGitous circumstances. His father, No
buyasu Okuma. was one Of the iniuen-
tial clansnen Of Saga and was the coms
mander Of the fortress at Nagasald. The
son entered a clan school where tbs
sons Of ali clausmen- on retainers were
. obliged to receive education in Chinese
classics and especially to study a text.
book treating ( Bushido. the moral spirs
1t of the sumn-ai.
! Young Okuma was one Of the first t.
show the discomfort with what he deem.
ed an oppressive and dognatic educz@
tional system Of clan government Tht
school imposed by HIS elders - becant
hateful to him. and his sense, Of rebellion
grew into open hostility He had not
neglected his culture He mastered the
classics and also the .philosophic. polit.
icaI and econmical theories advocated by
the Chinese scholars Of the radical school
| which incurred the wrath OF their clan
| leaders. and for time ne was expelled
from the schSsl
He became a. leader Of the rebellion
| against the old idea that contact with
western civilization meant danger for
| the empire. He abandoned his classics
to study the language Of the Dutch Nwid
| had arrived in the country. and from an
| 1fc1,. 1-. le -1irlrn1
| VI English and something OF the learn
ing of the west which he coveted 50
much. The coming of Commodore Perry
when Okuma was sixteen had caused q
great sensation among tho young radi-
| GALS which was increased by the later
bombardr1eiir Of Shimoneseki By ths
combineds meets Of Great Britain. tha
United. States. America and Holland
s.sOkuma's rise was rapid He took his
toric parts in the development OF ths
great Meiji reign which opened japan
to westerne civilization. He raised loans
and,saw that they were paid. He labored
for, the abolition Of the feudal system
and the establishment of a constitutions
al government He was minister OF f.
| nance until he resigned IN 1881 because
his colleagues rejected his proposal for
a more representative government. A
year later he formed progressive par
| ". In 1888, year before the prouuf~
CATION OF the constitution. he was ap-
pointed foreign minister and undertook
the task Of revising the treaties which
had been concluded with the powers be-
fore the restoration. The object was IA
regain rights previously conceded. Il
was then that occurred the outrage
which crippled him for life. yet did not
quench his extraordinary vitality and
energy. A young agitator incensed at
some Of Okuna's methods threw q bomb
at his carriage. Okuna was so injured
that he suffered the amputstton OF a leg.
In January. 1916. he was aE'ain the OBJ
, ject Of a bomb attempt at Toxic, but es-
capped unhurt.
. It was under his administration thai
japan herself entered the war on the
to the embarrassment OF Germany hl
Kiao-Chow. and by aiding the entente
powers financially and through the man
ufacture of munitions. Il was also dur
= ing his administration that the import
: ant Russo-Jspanese convention OF ISL
: was arranged and signed
He was one Of Japan's greatest ora
tors. He was democratic by conviction
= and democratic in manner. He possesssi
;, a strong. heroic face which lighted up 3
he talked His mouth and chin breathe
:. courage, frnness and tenacHy- H
: eyes showed intelligence and sentlenes
:. and a great understanding OF the need
:. and problems Of the millions Of Jspan
= ese which make up the Empire Of Mn
pom.