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Mori Arinori is considered the godfather of Japan's [[Meiji period]] [[Meiji education|"modern" education system]], and was the first to serve as [[Ministry of Education|Minister of Education]].<ref name=yokoyama>Plaque on-site at monument to Yokoyama Yasutake, [[Fukusho-ji|Fukushô-ji]], Kagoshima.</ref>

Mori Arinori is considered the godfather of Japan's [[Meiji period]] [[Meiji education|"modern" education system]], and was the first to serve as [[Ministry of Education|Minister of Education]].<ref name=yokoyama>Plaque on-site at monument to Yokoyama Yasutake, [[Fukusho-ji|Fukushô-ji]], Kagoshima.</ref>

Mori was born in the Nagata-chô neighborhood of [[Kagoshima]] in [[1847]]. In [[1865]], at the age of 19, Mori was one of a number of [[Satsuma students|students]] sent by [[Satsuma han]] secretly to England for study. While in England, he studied naval surveying. Mori then traveled to the United States in [[1867]]/7, and returned to Japan the following year, in [[1868]]/6. In [[1869]], Mori called for the prohibition of general private ownership of swords, and resigned his official post over the associated controversy. He then returned to Kagoshima, and opened an English-language school.

Mori was born in the Nagata-chô neighborhood of [[Kagoshima]] in [[1847]]. In [[1865]], at the age of 19, Mori was one of a number of [[Satsuma students|students]] sent by [[Satsuma han]] secretly to England for study. While in England, he studied naval surveying. Mori then traveled to the United States in [[1867]]/7, and returned to Japan the following year, in [[1868]]/6. In [[1869]], Mori called for the prohibition of general private ownership of swords, and resigned his official post over the associated controversy. He then returned to Kagoshima, and opened an English-language school.<ref name=birthplace>Plaque on-site at Mori Arinori's birthplace, Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15066679319/sizes/k/]</ref>

He was sent to Washington DC in [[1870]] as Japan's first minister to the US, and while there oversaw a number of surveys of the American educational system. He later served terms as ambassador to China, [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs|vice-minister of foreign affairs]], and ambassador to England, among a number of other positions, before becoming Minister of Education in [[1885]]. He held that position until his assassination, at his official residence, on the morning of the [[promulgation of the Meiji Constitution]], February 11, [[1889]].

He was sent to Washington DC in [[1870]] as Japan's first minister to the US, and while there oversaw a number of surveys of the American educational system. He later served terms as ambassador to China, [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs|vice-minister of foreign affairs]], and ambassador to England, among a number of other positions, before becoming Minister of Education in [[1885]]. He held that position until his assassination, at his official residence, on the morning of the [[promulgation of the Meiji Constitution]], February 11, [[1889]].<ref name=birthplace/>

As Minister of Education, Mori shaped the Japanese education system based largely on the Prussian model, and with the ideal in mind that public education "should produce men to serve the nation."<ref>Plaque on-site at Mori Arinori's birthplace, Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15066679319/sizes/k/]</ref>

As Minister of Education, Mori shaped the Japanese education system based largely on the Prussian model, and with the ideal in mind that public education "should produce men to serve the nation."<ref name=birthplace/> He was also a supporter of women's rights, monogamy, and freedom of belief; his assassination is said to have been motivated by a belief that Mori had been irreverent or disrespectful during a visit to [[Ise Shrine]].<ref name=birthplace/>

Mori's older brother [[Yokoyama Yasutake]] was a prominent member of the Meiji government as well.<ref name=yokoyama/>

Mori's older brother [[Yokoyama Yasutake]] was a prominent member of the Meiji government as well.<ref name=yokoyama/>