NAGATSUNE OKURA

Background

NAGATSUNE OKURA was born in in Kuma-machi, Hida-gun, Bungo Province (Oita Prefecture). His common names were Kamedayu, Tokubei, Kinai, and Kidayu, his formal name was Takezumi, and he was also known as Kio, Juwaen, and Koyoen.

Education

At first he hoped to become a Confucian scholar, but was persuaded by his father to take up the study of agriculture, and for some ten years wandered about Kyushu, acquiring the techniques of sugar growing employed in Satsuma and spreading them to other districts.

Career

In 1796 he went to Osaka and took up the sale of saplings and agricultural implements, and during the same period visited various districts in the Kinki and Chugoku areas to continue his study of agriculture. In 1810 he went to Edo and toured the Kanto area, then in 1816 returned to Osaka. After a few years he went to Edo again and published a large number of works on agriculture, recommending the clans of the Kanto area to take up industry and at the same time planning, with his friends, to open up various uninhabited islands. He also worked to develop industry in the lands of the shogunate and the Tanaka clan in Suruga (Shizuoka Prefecture).

In 1834 he was introduced to the Tahara clan by Watanabe Kazan and worked for the clan for a while. At one stage he received the patronage of the celebrated roju Mizuno Tadakuni and became kosan-kata, official in charge of promoting industry, but following the latter’s fall from power went to Edo, where he devoted himself to writing.

Works

• Other Work

  • He wrote more than thirty books, including
    
    Nókaeki, Rono chawa, Nógu benri ron, Seikatsu yоки, Aburaría токи, Kóeki кокu- san ко.
    
    

    (He wrote more than thirty books, including Nókaeki, Rono...)