SACRED LEGACY ARCHIVES™

Gotō Shinpei

1857-07-24 – 1929-04-13

Portrait of Goto Shinpei (後藤新平, 1857 – 1929)Credit: Unknown author

Life & Legacy

Count Gotō Shinpei (後藤新平; 24 July 1857 – 13 April 1929) was a Japanese politician, physician and cabinet minister of the Taishō and early Shōwa period Empire of Japan. He served as the head of civilian affairs of Japanese Taiwan, the first director of the South Manchuria Railway, the seventh mayor of Tokyo City, the first Chief Scout of Japan, the first Director-General of NHK, the third principal of Takushoku University, and in a number of cabinet posts. Gotō was one of the most important politicians and administrators in Japanese national government during a time of modernization and reform in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was also an advocate for Japanese colonialism.

Occupation & Career

diplomat, physician, politician, businessperson, statesperson

Education

Iwase General Hospital

Accomplishments, Inventions & Publications

Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers, 1st class; Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class; 1st Class Order of the Crown; Order of the White Eagle; Grand Cross of the Order of Henry the Lion; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire; Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain; Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown; Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta; Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class; Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th class; Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd class

Legacy Highlights

Honors & Awards

1st Class Order of the Crown · Grand Cross of the Order of Henry the Lion · Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta · Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown · Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire · Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain · Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers, 1st class · Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class · Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd class · Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th class · Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class · Order of the White Eagle