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Beginning in 1878, Narahara served short terms in a number of prominent positions in the [[Meiji government]], including chief secretary in the [[Home Ministry]], chief secretary in the [[Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce]], governor of [[Shizuoka prefecture]], and chief secretary in the [[Ministry of Works]]. He was also the first president of [[Nippon Railway]], and, for a time, a member of the House of Peers, and an imperial advisor.<ref name=kotobank/>

Beginning in 1878, Narahara served short terms in a number of prominent positions in the [[Meiji government]], including chief secretary in the [[Home Ministry]], chief secretary in the [[Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce]], governor of [[Shizuoka prefecture]], and chief secretary in the [[Ministry of Works]]. He was also the first president of [[Nippon Railway]], and, for a time, a member of the House of Peers, and an imperial advisor.<ref name=kotobank/>

He was named Governor of Okinawa prefecture in July 1892, a position which he held for nearly sixteen years, until April 1908. He was such a powerful personality and influential force in Okinawa that some called him "King of Ryûkyû" (琉球王, ''Ryûkyû-ô''). This period saw the implementation of a variety of assimilation and colonization efforts including that of the [[Education in the Meiji Period|national education system]], one of a number of steps taken in the Meiji period not only in Okinawa but throughout Japan, in order to homogenize culture and national identity across the entire Empire.　His administration showed no interest in preserving old customs or traditions, nor made any effort to protect a distinct Okinawan identity; quite the opposite. Narahara also pushed forward great development efforts in Okinawa, including the establishment and maintenance of commercial harbors, and land surveys and re-allocation, and he supported the establishment of newspapers such as the ''[[Ryukyu Shinpo|Ryûkyû Shinpô]]'' and banks such as the [[Okinawa Prefectural Agriculture and Industry Bank]]<!--沖縄県農工銀行-->.<ref name=kotobank/>

He was named Governor of Okinawa prefecture in July 1892, a position which he held for nearly sixteen years, until April 1908. He was such a powerful personality and influential force in Okinawa that some called him "King of Ryûkyû" (琉球王, ''Ryûkyû-ô''). This period saw the implementation of a variety of assimilation and colonization efforts including that of the [[Meiji education|national education system]], one of a number of steps taken in the Meiji period not only in Okinawa but throughout Japan, in order to homogenize culture and national identity across the entire Empire.　His administration showed no interest in preserving old customs or traditions, nor made any effort to protect a distinct Okinawan identity; quite the opposite. Narahara also pushed forward great development efforts in Okinawa, including the establishment and maintenance of commercial harbors, and land surveys and re-allocation, and he supported the establishment of newspapers such as the ''[[Ryukyu Shimpo|Ryûkyû Shimpô]]'' and banks such as the [[Okinawa Prefectural Agriculture and Industry Bank]]<!--沖縄県農工銀行-->.<ref name=kotobank/>

His administration's land development efforts included the dismantling of the traditional collective farming villages, and the introduction of private land ownership. He sold public forest land under the guise of "''[[shizoku]]'' relief efforts," and is said to have pushed forth his agendas without regard for the profits or well-being of farmers.<ref name=kotobank/>

His administration's land development efforts included the dismantling of the traditional collective farming villages, and the introduction of private land ownership. He sold public forest land under the guise of "''[[shizoku]]'' relief efforts," providing forest land to Ryukyuan former aristocrats to transform into farming land, in order to relieve their poverty,<ref>[[Gregory Smits]], "Jahana Noboru: Okinawan Activist and Scholar," in [[Anne Walthall]] (ed.), ''The Human Tradition in Modern Japan'', Scholarly Resources Inc. (2002), 104.</ref> but was criticized for pushing forth his agendas without regard for the profits or well-being of farmers.<ref name=kotobank/>

His administration is described in some sources as autocratic and imperialistic<ref name=kotobank/>, and while it was supported by [[Prime Minister]]s such as [[Ito Hirobumi|Itô Hirobumi]] and [[Matsukata Masayoshi]], it attracted considerable criticism and opposition within Okinawa. Prominent among his critics were [[Jahana Noboru]], and the members of the [[Kodokai|Kôdôkai]] organization which petitioned for Narahara to be recalled to the mainland and replaced as governor of Okinawa by a member of the former [[Sho Dynasty|Ryukyuan royal family]]. The creation and development of "Okinawan studies" by [[Iha Fuyu]], emphasizing and celebrating Okinawa's unique culture, also served, in part, as a gesture of resistance to the assimilation policies Narahara implemented.<ref name=kotobank/>

His administration is described in some sources as autocratic and imperialistic<ref name=kotobank/>, and while it was supported by [[Prime Minister]]s such as [[Ito Hirobumi|Itô Hirobumi]] and [[Matsukata Masayoshi]], it attracted considerable criticism and opposition within Okinawa. Prominent among his critics were [[Jahana Noboru]], and the members of the [[Kodokai|Kôdôkai]] organization which petitioned for Narahara to be recalled to the mainland and replaced as governor of Okinawa by a member of the former [[Sho Dynasty|Ryukyuan royal family]]. The creation and development of "Okinawan studies" by [[Iha Fuyu]], emphasizing and celebrating Okinawa's unique culture, also served, in part, as a gesture of resistance to the assimilation policies Narahara implemented.<ref name=kotobank/>

Little is known of the details of his life after his retirement from public service, but from the lack of records of his involvement in any controversies or other major events, it is assumed he lived his final years in peace.<ref name=nipponica/> He died 13 August 1918, after ten years of retirement.

Little is known of the details of his life after his retirement from public service, but from the lack of records of his involvement in any controversies or other major events, it is assumed he lived his final years in peace.<ref name=nipponica/> He died 13 August 1918, after ten years of retirement.

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]