(Japan's legendary industrialist) Yamada Houkoku

Yamada Hokoku  (March 21, 1805) - June 26, 1877)

Yamada Houkoku, was born as a farmers. When it comes to 5-year-old, to learn it is a Confucian scholar of Niimi clan Marukawa Syouin. Become status of samurai Matsuyama clan at the age of 20, was appointed to lead professor of Hanko. Then, also participated in Edo, and contributed to rebuilding finances. The tough decision to Edo period of turmoil, we were able to be avoided clan from destruction. However, after the Meiji Restoration and refused all the voices of many invited, he died as a private educator.

Encounter with Yomeigaku
Houkou when the 29-year-old, meet Yomeigaku in Kyoto Leisure education. At this time, the understanding of the respective advantages and disadvantages of Neo-Confucianism and Yomeigaku from Denshu proceedings king Yangming, was learn the correct way to learn.
The advantage of Neo-Confucianism is, can learn deeply if learn step-by-step academic even for beginners. However, there is a disadvantage that does not matter to forget out of my mind or my heart is Tokushin.
On the other hand, the benefits of Yomeigaku is, my mind is able to zero in on the essence of human nature by asking whether're Tokushin, reason it is possible to correctly determine, in the business can produce results. However, when running the act in mind that it was fit of self-interest there is a disadvantage that it is often mistaken judgment of reason. Thus, sincerely learn from our predecessors of lessons and classic, it is required to effort.
After this, Houkou is not the thing to teach also tapped the teachings of Yomeigaku from disciples to easy, was counsel to learn deeply the Neo-Confucianism. This is due to the fact that it has been familiar with will likely Yomeigaku disadvantage of running the act leave his own heart

Domain duties reform of Matsuyama clan
Houkoku preach "Advanced Financial Theory" and in the practice of "pseudo-measures", was a successful Domain duties reform.
Advanced Financial theory Economics of Hotani. In thinking of the words of Dong Zhongshu of the era of the Han "not paced interest in the obvious righteousness" and advanced the reform. In other words, it established a discipline, although it is righteousness to clarify the decrees, can not be cited achievements in the reforms that stood out of things and trying to escape the hunger is interest without revealing its righteousness. Kludge rather than proceed with the hunger measures, and if we put the separation of righteousness and interest to stand outside of things, naturally road was preached that not stomach those who hunger opened.
Gituisaku plan political theory of Houkoku. Shifu of the world is weakening, bribe it is luxury beyond the time or is done openly, and preached that it has been amended because these have become factors that put pressure on finances.

Report on the basis of this policy was carried out a bold reform Domain duties.

　1.Publish Han finance in and out, and revealed that the real income of the clan is not only in the year 10 009 Sengoku, it was carried out in '50 repayment postponement of debt (but pay off in a few years by the success of the reform)

　2.Abolished the Kurayashiki of Osaka and relocated elephants in territory, in peacetime without being affected by the trend of dōjima rice exchange sold the rice and special products in the most advantageous market, at the time of the disaster and famine is to the people under one's dominionIt was destined to aid rice.

　3.Commanded the austerity to his servants and ordered to send the lives of junior samurai par to senior samurai, also were confiscated in the case that was discovered by forbidden to receive a bribe and entertainment from the people under one's dominion. Hotani their households it was also revealed that not receiving bribes Publish take the initiative.

　4.Recovering the clan note that have lost their credit by the large amount of issuance (711 consistently 300 momme (11,855 Ryo) equivalent in gold equivalent) was, it was Yakisute in public. It was obligated to convertibility to clan by issuing a new clan note instead. At the same time by the distribution number of clan note is significantly reduced, now also flows through merchants and funds of other countries increased the credit to Matsuyama clan.

　5.From iron sand, which can be taken in the territory is allowed to produce Bicchu hoe, also was it to develop specialty products such as tobacco and tea, Japanese paper-Yuzumochi-ko by installing the "tending station" to introduce a kind of government monopoly. Contrary to the government monopoly of the other clan, profits of producers is emphasized with respect to production, Han was to increase profit by devising on the distribution below.

　6.These specialty products, avoid the intermediate commission takes Osaka, carries directly to Edo in the vessels of the clan owned (steamboat "Kaikazemaru"), Edo and around the Kanto (hoe in the facilities in the Hantei rural demand higherIt was sold directly to the merchant of). This, while ensuring high profitability by discharging the intermediate profits, also Niijima Jo of samurai us was to learn navigation (Incidentally Itakura family day at is annaka domain of the vassal a had been young cognate that there is that you have participated in this voyage exercises).

　7.Pour the emphasis on education of the people under one's dominion than the samurai, the winners were collection to samurai even farmers and townspeople born.

　8.The plant useful, such as mulberry and bamboo I gave planted in the garden. Further cause public works such as roads, rivers and harbors, to give a cash income is allowed to engage the poor the people under one's dominion. In addition, this also irrigation of traffic safety and agricultural water has been substantial.

　9.By installing a suggestion box, and heard widely suggestions of the people under one's dominion.

　10.While strengthening the crime-fighting, and helped the early rehabilitation of the sinner by installing the Yoseba.

　11.Introducing a kind of colonization system for the lower class samurai, it was hit on the security of the borders or the like in parallel with agricultural development.

　12.It introduced a Nohei system on behalf of the samurai to stick to the "battle by sword", and that learned military science of the West visited trimmed the English-style army (Hotani itself other clan by volunteers from the young samurai and farmers ). The military system has been to model in and Nagaoka clan (kiheitai after) Choshu clan.