Kuki Ryūichi


Baron Kuki Ryūichi was a Japanese politician and samurai. He is best known as the father of philosopher Kuki Shūzō.

Life

Kuki was born Hoshizaki Sadajirō in Sanda Domain, the second son of Hoshizaki Sadamoto, a retainer of the Sanda Domain. After his mother died in 1860, he was adopted by Kuki Takahiro, the karō of Ayabe Domain, through the mediation of Kuki Takayoshi, the daimyo of Sanda. In 1866, he succeeded as the head of the Kuki family.
In the early years of the Meiji period, after studying under Fukuzawa Yukichi, he took a post in the Japanese Ministry of Education, specializing in cultural policy. In 1884, he was appointed Japanese ambassador to the United States.
Complications in his career arose when his wife Hatsu had an affair with Okakura Kakuzō. He eventually returned to Japan where he continued to work in the Ministry of Education, and play a role as a patron of the arts. In 1897, he was appointed as the first Director of the Imperial Museum and he worked on establishing the Law for the Preservation of Ancient Shrines and Temples, the first law which defines cultural properties in Japan.

Honours

''From the Japanese Wikipedia article''

Japanese titles and decorations

Japanese medals

Japanese court ranks

  • Senior sixth rank
  • Fifth rank
  • Senior fifth rank
  • Fourth rank
  • Third rank
  • Senior third rank
  • Second rank
  • Senior second rank

Other honours