Kuzo Kimura

Japanese: 木村九蔵 - きむら・くぞう

Year of death: January 29, 1898
Year of birth: 1845
A sericulture improver in the Meiji period. The fifth son of Takayama Torazo (Torazo), a wealthy farmer from Takayama Village, Midoriga County, Kozuke Province (Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture). His mother was Sayo. He was the younger brother of Takayama Chogoro, who organized the sericulture improvement society Takayama-sha. He was adopted by the Kimura family of Shinjuku Village, Kodama County, Musashi Province (Kamikawa Village, Saitama Prefecture). In 1877 (Meiji 10), he organized the Sericulture Improvement Kyoshin-gumi (later Kyoshin-sha) and devoted himself to spreading the teachings of a rearing method called "Ippa Ondan-iku" (Ichiha Ondan-iku). He was also active in improving and spreading sericulture techniques, such as inspecting the silk industry in Europe at the behest of the government. Inspired by the success of his older brother Chogoro, he competed with Takayama-sha and worked hard to improve himself. The Kyoshin-sha model sericulture room still exists in Saitama Prefecture. <References> Bin Muramatsu, "Commentary on 'The Mirror of Sericulture'" (Meiji Agricultural Books Collection, Vol. 9)

(Bin Matsumura)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：明治31.1.29(1898)
生年：弘化2.10(1845)
明治時代の養蚕改良家。上野国緑野郡高山村(群馬県藤岡市)の豪農高山寅蔵(寅三)の5男。母さよ。養蚕改良結社高山社を組織した高山長五郎の実弟。武蔵国児玉郡新宿村(埼玉県神川村)の木村家の養子となる。明治10(1877)年には養蚕改良競進組(のちの競進社)を組織して「一派温暖育」と称する飼育法の伝教に力を注ぎ,また政府の命を受けてヨーロッパ蚕糸業の視察も行うなど,養蚕技術の改良と普及に活発な活動を行った。兄長五郎の活躍に刺激され,高山社と競いながら切磋琢磨したのである。競進社模範蚕室は埼玉県に現存している。<参考文献>村松敏「『蚕飼の鑑』解題」(『明治農書全集』9巻)

(松村敏)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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