Kitaro Nakai

1864 (age 60)

Iwakuni, Japan

in 1889 joined the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper. Became the paper’s managing editor and wrote editorials of the paper for more than 10 years. In 1898 he organized the Toa-kai or East Asia Society and advocated the safeguarding of Japanese interests in that area. Organized the Kokumin Domei-hai or the National Federation with Prince Atsumaro Konoe as its head. It was an organization advocating a strong foreign policy. When in 1903 the Tairo Doshi-kai, or Russian Problems Society, was organized he became one of its leaders and promoted a strong policy toward Russia. He went to Korea and became president of the Kanjo Shimpo newspaper and head of the Japanese community in Seoul (Korea). While in Seoul, he engaged in activities designed to accelerate the war with Russia. He subsequently participated in the Chinese revolution and promoted Japanese industrial activities in the South Seas. It is said that he was the wirepuller behind the announcement of the famous statement favoring war with Russia by seven leading scholars of Japan shortly before the Russo-Japanese War.