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[[Image:Fukuchi-Genichiro.JPG|right|thumb|300px|Fukuchi as depicted in a woodblock print by [[Kobayashi Kiyochika]], from the series ''Kyôdô Risshi no Motoi''.]]
*''Born: [[1841]]/3/23, Nagasaki''
*''Died: [[1906]]/1/4, Tokyo''
*''Other Names'': 福地桜痴 ''(Fukuchi Ouchi)'', 八十吉 ''(Yasokichi)'', 吾曹 ''(Gosou)''
*''Japanese'': 福地源一郎 ''(Fukuchi Gen'ichirou)''
Fukuchi Gen'ichirô was a journalist, writer, and statesman of the Meiji period.
Originally from [[Nagasaki]], he was the son of a physician, Fukuchi Gensuke, and his wife Matsuko.
He studied [[Rangaku]] and the Dutch language from a young age, and journeyed to Edo at the age of 18 in [[1858]] to learn English; there, he worked as a translator and interpreter for the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]], and traveled to Europe twice with official shogunate delegations, in [[1861]] and [[1865]]; shortly after (or even before?) the [[Meiji Restoration]], he founded a newspaper called the <i>[[Koko shinbun|Kôko shimbun]]</i> (江湖新聞), in which he criticized the [[Meiji government|Sat-Chô government]] and defended the shogunate. Though arrested for this, thanks to the efforts of [[Kido Takayoshi]] he was acquitted, and began working for the [[Ministry of Finance]] (''Ôkurashô''<!--大蔵省-->) as soon as two years later, taking part in both the [[Iwakura Mission]] and a visit by [[Ito Hirobumi|Itô Hirobumi]] to the US.
From 1874-1888, he was chief editor and president of the <i>[[Tokyo Nichinichi Shinbun]]</i>, reporting on a wide variety of stories, including the [[Satsuma Rebellion]], often under the penname Gosô (吾曹). In his writings, he rejected radical stances, supporting a more realist view, and more gradual, "slow and steady" policies. Though generally quite supportive of the government, and indeed marketing the paper as an official publication supported by or authorized by the [[Dajokan|Dajôkan]], he was also at times quite critical of the state. One such occasion was in his criticism of an incident or scandal related to the disposal of government-owned land by the [[Hokkaido Development Commission]] in [[1881]].
Fukuchi also worked as a politician, elected to the Tokyo prefectural legislature in 1878, and named its head the following year. In 1882, he formed a new political party along with a number of his fellows, but it was not officially recognized. The following year, the government began printing its own gazette, and the no longer officially sponsored ''Tokyo Nichinichi Shinbun'' began to have financial problems; Fukuchi stepped down as editor-in-chief the following year, and retired from the newspaper in 1888.
In later years, he turned to writing [[kabuki]] plays and fiction, and supporting the development of [[modern theatre]], as well as playing a role in the [[1889]] construction of [[Kabuki-za]]. Having strong connections with [[Ichikawa Danjuro IX|Ichikawa Danjûrô IX]], he wrote a number of plays, including one entitled "[[Kasuga no Tsubone]]." He was elected to the [[National Diet|Diet]] in 1904, but died two years later.
==References==
*"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%A6%8F%E5%9C%B0%E6%BA%90%E4%B8%80%E9%83%8E Fukuchi Gen'ichirô]." ''Asahi Nihon Rekishi Jinbutsu Jiten'' (朝日日本歴史人物事典, "Asahi Encyclopedia of Japanese Historical Personages"). Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 5 Nov 2011.
*"[http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/319.html Fukuchi, Gen'ichirô]." Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures. National Diet Library, 2004. Accessed 5 Nov 2011.
*"[http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/k/kobayashi_kiyochika,_the_journ.aspx Kobayashi Kiyochika, The journalist Fukuchi Gen'ichirō, a colour woodblock print]." The British Museum. Accessed 5 Nov 2011.
[[Category:Meiji Period]]
[[Category:Artists and Artisans]]
[[Category:Other Historical Figures]]
*''Born: [[1841]]/3/23, Nagasaki''
*''Died: [[1906]]/1/4, Tokyo''
*''Other Names'': 福地桜痴 ''(Fukuchi Ouchi)'', 八十吉 ''(Yasokichi)'', 吾曹 ''(Gosou)''
*''Japanese'': 福地源一郎 ''(Fukuchi Gen'ichirou)''
Fukuchi Gen'ichirô was a journalist, writer, and statesman of the Meiji period.
Originally from [[Nagasaki]], he was the son of a physician, Fukuchi Gensuke, and his wife Matsuko.
He studied [[Rangaku]] and the Dutch language from a young age, and journeyed to Edo at the age of 18 in [[1858]] to learn English; there, he worked as a translator and interpreter for the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]], and traveled to Europe twice with official shogunate delegations, in [[1861]] and [[1865]]; shortly after (or even before?) the [[Meiji Restoration]], he founded a newspaper called the <i>[[Koko shinbun|Kôko shimbun]]</i> (江湖新聞), in which he criticized the [[Meiji government|Sat-Chô government]] and defended the shogunate. Though arrested for this, thanks to the efforts of [[Kido Takayoshi]] he was acquitted, and began working for the [[Ministry of Finance]] (''Ôkurashô''<!--大蔵省-->) as soon as two years later, taking part in both the [[Iwakura Mission]] and a visit by [[Ito Hirobumi|Itô Hirobumi]] to the US.
From 1874-1888, he was chief editor and president of the <i>[[Tokyo Nichinichi Shinbun]]</i>, reporting on a wide variety of stories, including the [[Satsuma Rebellion]], often under the penname Gosô (吾曹). In his writings, he rejected radical stances, supporting a more realist view, and more gradual, "slow and steady" policies. Though generally quite supportive of the government, and indeed marketing the paper as an official publication supported by or authorized by the [[Dajokan|Dajôkan]], he was also at times quite critical of the state. One such occasion was in his criticism of an incident or scandal related to the disposal of government-owned land by the [[Hokkaido Development Commission]] in [[1881]].
Fukuchi also worked as a politician, elected to the Tokyo prefectural legislature in 1878, and named its head the following year. In 1882, he formed a new political party along with a number of his fellows, but it was not officially recognized. The following year, the government began printing its own gazette, and the no longer officially sponsored ''Tokyo Nichinichi Shinbun'' began to have financial problems; Fukuchi stepped down as editor-in-chief the following year, and retired from the newspaper in 1888.
In later years, he turned to writing [[kabuki]] plays and fiction, and supporting the development of [[modern theatre]], as well as playing a role in the [[1889]] construction of [[Kabuki-za]]. Having strong connections with [[Ichikawa Danjuro IX|Ichikawa Danjûrô IX]], he wrote a number of plays, including one entitled "[[Kasuga no Tsubone]]." He was elected to the [[National Diet|Diet]] in 1904, but died two years later.
==References==
*"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%A6%8F%E5%9C%B0%E6%BA%90%E4%B8%80%E9%83%8E Fukuchi Gen'ichirô]." ''Asahi Nihon Rekishi Jinbutsu Jiten'' (朝日日本歴史人物事典, "Asahi Encyclopedia of Japanese Historical Personages"). Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 5 Nov 2011.
*"[http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/319.html Fukuchi, Gen'ichirô]." Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures. National Diet Library, 2004. Accessed 5 Nov 2011.
*"[http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/k/kobayashi_kiyochika,_the_journ.aspx Kobayashi Kiyochika, The journalist Fukuchi Gen'ichirō, a colour woodblock print]." The British Museum. Accessed 5 Nov 2011.
[[Category:Meiji Period]]
[[Category:Artists and Artisans]]
[[Category:Other Historical Figures]]