Background
Tani Shigeki was born in Tosa (Kochi Prefecture), 1843. His family was for long in the service of lords of the Tosa Clan.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Tani Shigeki
Edit Profileタニ 茂木
Career
Tani Shigeki distinguished himself with the troops of Taisuke Itagaki in the Boshin Affair (civil war between Imperial Court and Shogunate in 1868) and was promoted to the rank of colonel (1870). He left military service shortly after due to a difference of opinion over the invasion of Korea and took to politics, becoming a member of the Risshisha.
In 1877 he became its vice-president and subsequently helped to form the Liberal Party (1881), and became treasury for their party organ, Jiyu Shimbun. Acted as president of the Liberal Party (1882-83) during the absence of Taisuke Itagaki. In between his political career he served a prison term, during which he wrote Yushuroku, his autobiography.
