Inazo Nitobe
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Inazo Nitobe (新渡戸 稲造; Nitobe Inazō, September 1, 1862 - October 15, 1933) was a Christian Japanese agriculturist, philosopher, educator and international political activist from Morioka, Iwate. His family were retainers to the local clan, the Nambu Clan. Nitobe Inazõ left Morioka in 1871 to become the heir of his uncle, Ota Tokitoshi. (This included a name change from Nitobe Inosuko to Ota Inazo)
Nitobe was in the third class of the Sapporo Agricultural Institute and was no doubt influenced by the teachings of Dr. William S. Clark, though they never personally crossed paths. His decision to study agriculture was due to a hope expressed by Emperor Meiji that the Nitobe family would continue to advance the field of agriculture.
In 1884, Ota Inazo traveled to the United States, becoming one of the first Japanese-American exchange students. He studied at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. While there, he became a member of the Society of Friends. It was through a Quaker society in Philadelphia that he met Mary Patterson Elkinton. Shortly after making her acquaintance, he was informed of his appointment to a professorship at the Sapporo Agricultural Institute. With this appointment came a reccomendation that he study further in Germany. It was through many letters that Mary and Nitobe fell in love, and decided to marry. This marriage occurred over the Elkinton Patriarch's objection. However, Joseph Spoonmaker Elkinton was reconciled to the departure and visited his beloved daughter the week before they left to Japan.
His portrait was featured on the ¥5000 (Yen) banknote printed from 1984 to 2004.
The Nitobe Memorial Garden at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada is named in his honour.
Quotations
- "What is important is to try to develop insights and wisdom rather than mere knowledge, respect someone's character rather than his learning, and nurture men of character rather than mere talents."
- "If there is anything to do, there is certainly a best way to do it, and the best way is both the most economical and the most graceful."
External links
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