Changes

* ''Birth: [[1844]]''

* ''Birth: [[1844]]''

* ''Death: [[1897]]''

* ''Death: [[1897]]''

* ''Japanese'': 陸奥 宗光 ''(Mutsu Munemitsu}''

* ''Japanese'': 陸奥 宗光 ''(Mutsu Munemitsu}''

Munemitsu was born into a [[Samurai]] family in [[Wakayama]] in 1844.  He joined the [[Kaientai]] near the end of the [[Bakumatsu Period]]. He was active in the Japanese foreign ministry as a diplomat.

Munemitsu was born into a [[samurai]] family in [[Wakayama]] in [[1844]].  He joined the [[Kaientai]] near the end of the [[Bakumatsu period]], and he also attempted to assist [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]] during the [[Satsuma Rebellion]] and was imprisoned from [[1878]] until [[1883]]. In [[1886]], Munemitsu received a diplomatic appointment after a trip to Europe. Munemitsu was active in the Japanese foreign ministry as a diplomat, and worked to reverse the [[Unequal Treaties]] imposed on Japan by the Western powers.

 

In [[1895]], he participated in the [[Shimonoseki]] Peace Conference alongside Prime Minister [[Ito Hirobumi|Itô Hirobumi]], negotiating the [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]] which ended the [[Sino-Japanese War]]. Criticized by the [[Meiji Emperor]] and others for the way the war was conducted and for the [[Triple Intervention]], he detailed his account of the diplomatic, political, and military aspects of the war in an effort to combat the accusations, titling it ''Kenkenroku'' (lit. "A Record of Loyalty").<ref>Gallery labels, Wakayama castle.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/48849689147/in/photostream/]</ref>

==References==

==References==

* [http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/index.html Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures]

* [http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/index.html Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures]

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Diplomats]][[Category:Edo Period]][[Category:Bakumatsu]][[Category:Meiji Period]]

 

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Diplomats]][[Category:Edo Period]][[Category:Bakumatsu Period]][[Category:Meiji Period]]