Background
Eifu Motoda was born in 1818. He was the son of a samurai of the domain of Kumamoto in Kyushu; his formal name was Shichu, and his literary name Toya.
Eifu Motoda was born in 1818. He was the son of a samurai of the domain of Kumamoto in Kyushu; his formal name was Shichu, and his literary name Toya.
He began the study of Chinese at an early age and from the age of ten attended the official school of the domain, where he gained a reputation for his brilliance.
In 1858 he succeeded his father as head of the family and entered the service of the domain and in 1861 accompanied his lord to Edo. In 1867 he became administrator of Takase in Kumamoto and in 1870, after the establishment of the Meiji government, became tutor to Hosokawa Morihisa, the governor of the domain of Kumamoto. In 1871 he entered the Imperial Household Agency and in 1875 became tutor to Emperor Meiji. Thereafter he continued to rise in court service, in 1886 becoming a court advisor and in 1888 an advisor to the Privy Council.
He enjoyed great trust and favor with Emperor Meiji.
He was a leader of the conservative faction at court and worked to establish a system of education centered about patriotism and reverence for the emperor.