Kenkichi Kataoka

A liberal and civil rights activist. Born on December 26, 1834 in Nakajimacho, Tosa Province (Nakajimacho, Kochi City). His father was Shunpei Kataoka, a samurai of the Tosa clan, and his mother was a member of the Shibuya clan. He was a high-ranking samurai with a stipend of 250 koku. During the Boshin War, he participated in the capture of Aizu Castle as the commander of the right half battalion of the Jinshotai. He was promoted to the position of Churo due to his military achievements. He left on May 6, 1871 (Meiji 4) for an overseas inspection tour ordered by the Imperial Court, and stayed in London via America. He returned to Japan one year and ten months later as a naval lieutenant colonel. He returned to Kochi together with Itagaki Taisuke, who had resigned after losing the debate on the Korean War. In 1874, he submitted his resignation as a naval lieutenant colonel and promoted the establishment of Rishisha, and became its president when the president system was established in April of the following year. He served as a seventh-class official in Kochi Prefecture from August 24 of the same year to January of the following year. On June 9, 1877, he submitted a petition from the Doshisha University calling for the establishment of a national Diet, but it was rejected. On August 18 of the same year, he was arrested in connection with the uprising of Saigo Takamori, and imprisoned for one year and five months. After his release, he was elected to the Kochi Prefectural Assembly and became its first speaker. In April 1880, as the representative of the National Diet Promotion Alliance, he submitted a "Petition for the Establishment of a National Diet," but it was rejected. On May 15, 1885, he was baptized as a Christian. On December 26, 1887, he was sentenced to two years and six months in light imprisonment for refusing to leave Tokyo in accordance with the Security Ordinance, which was promulgated and put into effect. After the first general election for the House of Representatives, he was elected eight times in a row. On March 27, 1902 (Meiji 35), he became president of Doshisha University. He died of illness on October 31, 1903, while serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was awarded the Fourth Rank, Third Class Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon and is buried at Jinzenjiyama in Kochi City.

[Mitsuhiro Tonosaki]

"The Biography of Professor Kataoka Kenkichi" by Kawada Mizuho (1939, Ritsumeikan Publishing Division, reprint edition, 1978, Kohokusha)" ▽ "The Diary of Kataoka Kenkichi" edited by Tonosaki Mitsuhiro (1974, Kochi City Library)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

自由民権家。天保(てんぽう)14年12月26日、土佐国中島町（高知市中島町）に生まれる。父は土佐藩士片岡俊平、母は渋谷氏。家格は馬廻(うままわり)250石の上級武士。戊辰(ぼしん)戦争に際し迅衝隊(じんしょうたい)右半大隊(みぎはんだいたい)司令として会津城攻略に参加。戦功により中老職。朝命による海外視察のため1871年（明治4）5月6日出発、アメリカを経てロンドンに滞在。1年10か月後帰国し海軍中佐。征韓論に敗れて下野した板垣退助(たいすけ)と行動をともにし高知に帰る。74年海軍中佐の辞表を提出するとともに、立志社(りっししゃ)の創立を推進し、翌年4月の社長制設置とともに社長に就任。同年8月24日から翌年1月まで高知県七等出仕。77年6月9日に国会開設を求める立志社建白書を提出して却下になる。同年8月18日西郷隆盛(たかもり)の挙兵に関し逮捕され1年5か月入獄。出獄後、高知県会議員に当選し初代議長。80年4月国会期成同盟の総代として「国会ヲ開設スルノ允可(いんか)ヲ上願スル書」を提出したが拒絶される。85年5月15日キリスト教受洗。87年12月26日公布・施行された保安条例による東京からの退去を拒否したため軽禁錮2年6か月。第1回衆議院議員総選挙以降、連続8回当選。1902年（明治35）3月27日同志社社長。衆議院議長在任中の明治36年10月31日病死。正四位勲三等、旭日中綬章(きょくじつちゅうじゅしょう)。墓は高知市秦泉寺山(じんぜんじやま)。

［外崎光廣］

『川田瑞穂著『片岡健吉先生伝』（1939・立命館出版部／復刻版・1978・湖北社）』▽『外崎光廣編『片岡健吉日記』（1974・高知市民図書館）』

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