Suzuki Kiyosuke
Kiyosuke was born the 4th son of local elite Suzuki Hane'emon. As a youth, he studied at the Kayama School (today, Sakura High School), subjects including Confucianism, swimming, swordsmanship, and jiujitsu. He was particularly involved in Yôshin-ryû jiu-jitsu, and was known as one of the four Shitennô of the Totsuka students.
In 1882,11, at the age of 22, he became a Chiba prefecture patrolman. Then, in 1888/12, he came to work at the Sakura City Police Station. On 1890/4/4, while serving as an escort for funds from the National Treasury, there was an armed robbery, and he was shot. Though his wound was fatal, he did his job and apprehended the criminal before succumbing to his wounds. He was posthumously named patrol captain, and received posthumous awards from the prefectural governor. His grave in Sakura, Chiba, continues to be marked today with a plaque explaining his biography and accomplishments.
References
- Plaque on-site at Suzuki's grave.
