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* ''Born: [[1833]]''
* ''Born: [[1833]]''
* ''Died: [[1877]]''
* ''Died: [[1877]]''
* ''Other Name: Katsura Kogorou'' (桂小五郎)
* ''Other Names'': 桂小五郎 ''(Katsura Kogorou)''
* ''Japanese'': 木戸 考允 ''(Kido Takayoshi, Kido Kôin)''
* ''Japanese'': 木戸考允 ''(Kido Takayoshi, Kido Kôin)''
A pro-Imperial loyalist from [[Choshu]], he played a major role in shaping the course of the [[Meiji Restoration]] as the chief negotiator for Choshu in the military alliance that was forged with [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] with the help of [[Sakamoto Ryoma]]. Kido was one of the more prominent radicals that were targeted by the pro-[[Tokugawa Bakufu|Bakufu]] forces. Although supposed to be at the [[Ikedaya Affair|Ikedaya]] the night of the famous raid led by the [[Shinsengumi]], Kido was tipped off by his geisha lover that the Shinsengumi were coming for him and wisely chose not show up for the loyalist meeting on that fateful night. He spent the next few days hiding incognito as a beggar. Kido went on to serve the Meiji government as education minister, home affairs minister, chairman of the local official council, cabinet councillor.
A pro-Imperial loyalist from [[Choshu han|Chôshû]], Kido Kôin played a major role in shaping the course of the [[Meiji Restoration]] as the chief negotiator for Chôshû in the military alliance that was forged with [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]] with the help of [[Sakamoto Ryoma|Sakamoto Ryôma]]. Kido was one of the more prominent radicals who were targeted by the pro-[[Tokugawa Bakufu|Bakufu]] forces. Although supposed to be at the [[Ikedaya Affair|Ikedaya]] the night of the famous raid led by the [[Shinsengumi]], Kido was tipped off by his [[geisha]] lover that the Shinsengumi were coming for him and wisely chose not show up for the loyalist meeting on that fateful night. He spent the next few days hiding incognito as a beggar.
[[1871]], he participated in the [[Iwakura Mission]].
Kido went on to serve the [[Meiji government]] as [[Ministry of Education|education minister]], [[Ministry of the Interior|home affairs minister]], chairman of the local official council, and as cabinet councillor. Immediately following the Restoration, he assisted [[So Yoshiakira|Sô Yoshiakira]], lord of [[Tsushima han]], in obtaining a new title and enhanced court rank in order to continue to serve as lead intermediary for relations with Korea, under the new Meiji government.<ref>Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 240.</ref>
Kido then participated in the [[Iwakura Mission]] in [[1871]], and following his return to Japan, stood opposed to the invasion of Korea proposed in the [[Seikanron]] debated in [[1873]]. Though he, along with [[Oshima Tomonojo|Ôshima Tomonojô]] and certain other Tsushima officials, had previously advocated a punitive mission against Korea should the Korean Court refuse to engage in relations with the new government, circumstances had changed by this time, and Kido pressed for the Meiji government to instead focus on "the proper management of domestic affairs."<ref>Hellyer, 245.</ref>
Kido was a pupil of [[Yoshida Shoin|Yoshida Shôin]]. He learned [[Shinto Munen Ryu]] from [[Saito Yakuro|Saitô Yakurô]] and became head coach of the dojo "[[Renpeikan]]".
Kido was a pupil of [[Yoshida Shoin|Yoshida Shôin]]. He learned [[Shinto Munen Ryu]] from [[Saito Yakuro|Saitô Yakurô]] and became head coach of the dojo "[[Renpeikan]]".
* [http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/65.html?c=0 National Diet Library]
* [http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/65.html?c=0 National Diet Library]
* [http://www.pref.yamaguchi.jp/gyosei/bunka-s/ishin/data/p-kidok.html Yamaguchi Prefecture Official Site]
* [http://www.pref.yamaguchi.jp/gyosei/bunka-s/ishin/data/p-kidok.html Yamaguchi Prefecture Official Site]
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[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Diplomats]]
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Diplomats]]
[[Category:Bakumatsu]][[Category:Edo Period]]
[[Category:Bakumatsu]][[Category:Edo Period]]
[[Category:Meiji Period]]
[[Category:Meiji Period]]