From Takeo to the World
Masuka Yamaguchi and the Iwakura Mission to the West

         In 1878, Masuka Yamaguchi visited the United States of America and other Western countries as a vice envoy of the Iwakura mission with Tomomi Iwakura, Takayoshi Kido, Toshimichi Okubo and Hirobumi Ito. Masuka Yamaguchi was chosen by Shigeyoshi Nabeshima. So, he mastered Western learning and English. After mastering Western learning and English, he became actively involved with Shigenobu Okuma and Taneomi Soejima from the end of the Edo era until the time of the Meiji Restoration. Masuka Yamaguchi visited America and other Western countries for two years as the leader of an envoy. As a result, he was able to cultivate an outside perspective on Japan. Thanks to this perspective, he filled many important posts throughout Japan.

YAMAGUTI Masuka photographic portrait Meiji period, 19th century Takeo City Possession

Iwakura Mission to the West head   （Takayoshi Kido from the left, Masuka Yamaguchi, Tomomi Iwakura, Hirobumi Ito, Toshimichi Okubo） Meiji period, dated 1872, Takeo City Possession

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