Background
Tsutomu Sakurai was born in 1843 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He was the second son of Ichitaro Sakurai, a chief retainer of the Izushi Clan.
Tsutomu Sakurai was born in 1843 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He was the second son of Ichitaro Sakurai, a chief retainer of the Izushi Clan.
After the Meiji Restoraition (1868), he became a government official in the local administration branch. Was appointed the first director of the Mountains and Forestry Bureau, then governor of Tokushima and Yamanashi prefectures and Shinchiku Prefecture in Formosa. Was elected to the House of Representatives (1894) and contributed to the development of the spinning and pottery industries in his native Izushi district. Also promoted education in the area. Wrote books about his native district.