Masayasu Shiroma - Gusukuma Seian

Japanese: 城間正安 - ぐすくま・せいあん

Year of death: August 1944
Year of birth: 19 August 13 (1860.10.3)
A leader in the movement to abolish the poll tax in modern Okinawa. Born in Naha, he studied sugarcane cultivation and sugar manufacturing techniques at the Agricultural Experiment Station. In 1884 (Meiji 17), he was appointed sugar manufacturing instructor for Miyakojima, and devoted himself to that role for the next 10 years. At the same time, he was concerned about the poor living conditions of the islanders, and felt strongly that the poll tax, which was the root cause of their poverty, should be abolished. Together with Nakamura Jusaku (from Niigata Prefecture), he led the islanders, and despite obstacles, he launched a petition campaign to the Diet, contributing to the realization of the abolition of this cruel system. <References> Sakumoto Tsugumune, "Hidden Great Men"

(Takara Kurayoshi)

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

Japanese:

没年：昭和19.8(1944)
生年：尚泰13.8.19(1860.10.3)
近代沖縄の人頭税廃止運動の指導者。那覇に生まれ,農事試験場でサトウキビ栽培や製糖の技法を研究した。明治17(1884)年に宮古島の製糖指導員に任命され,以後10年間その職務に専念した。かたわら島民の貧しい生活を憂え,その元凶である人頭税の撤廃を痛感した。中村十作(新潟県出身)と共に島民を指導し,妨害を受けながらも国会請願運動を展開するなどして悪制廃止実現に貢献した。<参考文献>佐久本嗣宗『隠れたる偉人』

(高良倉吉)

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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