Takeshi Inoue - Inoue Kowashi

A bureaucrat in the early Meiji period. Born on December 18, Tempo 14, as the third son of Iida Gongobei, a vassal of the Kumamoto domain, he was adopted into the Inoue family in 1866 (Keio 2). His childhood name was Takuma, and his pen name was Goin. His talent was recognized by his lord, Nagaoka Kenmotsu, and he entered the private school of Kinoshita Saitan, and he was selected to become a boarding student at the domain school, Jishukan. In 1867, he was ordered by the domain to travel to Edo to study French studies. After the establishment of the new Meiji government in 1871 (Meiji 4), he joined the Ministry of Justice, and the following year he was part of a European research team, where he studied national law and investigated legal systems, mainly in France and Germany. Upon returning to Japan in 1873, he actively offered policy suggestions to the government leaders, gradually winning the trust of Okubo Toshimichi, Iwakura Tomomi, Ito Hirobumi and others. He became Chief Secretary of the Dajokan (Grand Council of State), and in the "Meiji 14th Year Coup" of October 1881, he worked behind the scenes with the Satcho clan faction to expel Okuma Shigenobu from the government and achieve the adoption of the Prussian Imperial Constitution, solidifying his position. After the coup, he served as a member of the House of Councillors and Chief Secretary of the Cabinet, and worked under Ito Hirobumi to draft the constitution. In 1888, he was appointed Director-General of the Legislative Bureau and also served as Chief Secretary of the Privy Council. He was also involved in drafting the Imperial Rescript on Education, and in 1893 he became the Minister of Education in the second Ito Cabinet, but resigned midway through his term due to illness, and passed away on March 17, 1895.

As the greatest brain behind the formative Meiji state, he drafted numerous drafts and wrote numerous opinions on behalf of ministers and councilors. His former documents are held by Kokugakuin University as the "Goin Bunko."

[Sumio Ohirakata]

"Inoue Tsuyoshi Biography Editorial Committee, ed., "Inoue Tsuyoshi Biography: Historical Materials," 6 volumes (1966-1977, Kokugakuin University Library)" ▽ "Inoue Tsuyoshi and the Meiji State," by Sakai Yukichi (1983, University of Tokyo Press)" ▽ "Inoue Tsuyoshi and Fukuzawa Yukichi," by Watanabe Shunichi (2004, Japan Library Center)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治前期の官僚。天保(てんぽう)14年12月18日熊本藩の陪臣飯田権五兵衛の三男に生まれる。1866年（慶応2）井上家の養子となった。幼名多久馬(たくま)、号は梧陰(ごいん)。主君長岡監物(ながおかけんもつ)に才能を認められて木下犀潭(きのしたさいたん)の塾に入門、さらに抜擢(ばってき)されて藩校時習館の居寮生となった。1867年、藩命によって江戸に遊学してフランス学を学ぶ。明治新政府成立後の1871年（明治4）司法省に入り、翌年渡欧調査団の一員としてフランス、ドイツを中心に国法学の修得と法制の調査に従事した。1873年に帰国するや、盛んに政府首脳部に対して献策し、しだいに大久保利通(おおくぼとしみち)、岩倉具視(いわくらともみ)、伊藤博文(いとうひろぶみ)らの信任を得ていった。太政官(だじょうかん)大書記官となり、1881年10月の「明治十四年の政変」をめぐって薩長(さっちょう)藩閥勢力の背後で画策、大隈重信(おおくましげのぶ)の政府追放とプロシア流欽定(きんてい)憲法構想の採用を実現して、その位置を不動のものとした。政変後、参事院議官、内閣書記官長などを務め、伊藤博文のもとで憲法起草に従事した。1888年法制局長官に就任して枢密院書記官長を兼任。教育勅語の起草にも関与し、1893年には第二次伊藤内閣の文部大臣となったが、病気のため在任なかばで辞任し、明治28年3月17日に没した。

　形成期明治国家最大のブレーンとして、起草した草案や、大臣・参議などにかわり代筆した意見書は多数に上る。旧蔵文書は「梧陰文庫」として国学院大学が所蔵。

［大日方純夫］

『井上毅伝記編纂委員会編『井上毅伝　史料篇』全6巻（1966～1977・国学院大学図書館）』▽『坂井雄吉著『井上毅と明治国家』（1983・東京大学出版会）』▽『渡辺俊一著『井上毅と福沢諭吉』（2004・日本図書センター）』

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