Background
Yamada Hokoku was born on March 21, 1805 in Takahashi, Okayama, Japan.
山田 方谷
Yamada Hokoku was born on March 21, 1805 in Takahashi, Okayama, Japan.
After studying the doctrines of Chutzu entered the services of Lord of Matsuyama. Later moved to Kyoto (1831) and then to Edo where he made friends with such scholars as Issai Sato and Zozan Sakuma. After eight years in Edo he returned home and was appointed head of his clan's school.
Yamada Hokoku taught gunnery, improved clan finances, encouraged industry and reclaimed large tracts of land for paddy fields. During the Meiji Restoration (1868) he advocated submission to the Emperor and guided his clan accordingly.