Okubo+Toshimishi

= __Okubo Toshimichi __ = = =

Okubo Toshimichi was a samurai who was key in the Meiji Restoration and helped to overthrow the Tokugawa family which was the previous ruling family in Japan. He was one of the leaders of the Satsuma which was a group of samurai that opposed the Tokugawa. He signed an alliance with a rival group that also opposed the Tokugawa. In doing this, they did not have to worry about fighting each other and they could focus on overthrowing the Tokugawa family. Toshimichi became a prominent member of the new government. He was one of diplomats who was sent on the Iwakara Mission in which he traveled to different Western countries and observed their ways of life. After he came back to Japan, he supported modernization. He also advocated government loans as well as public education. Okubo Toshimichi was eventually assassinated by a rival on May 14, 1878 because he did not support the idea of invading Korea.