Tokoro Ikutarō

was a doctor practicing Western medicine and also a patriot in the closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate. He is well known as the doctor who saved the life of Inoue Kaoru, who was severely wounded by would-be assassins. He was also a staff officer of Takasugi Shinsaku.

Biography

Tokoro Ikutarō (), formerly Yabashi Ikutarō, was a doctor practicing Western medicine and a patriot in the closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate.

He was born in Akasaka-juku (Nakasendō) in 1838 as the 4th son of . Later this "Yabashi" family had to moved out of the homeland because Ikutarō became a supporter of the doctrine of restoring the emperor. At the age of 11 Ikutarō became the son-in-law of who also had to move out of the homeland for the very same reason.

Tokoro entered into Tekijuku. He had the reputation of being a brilliant student and enjoyed the companionship of Fukuzawa Yukichi, Ōmura Masujirō and so on.

He became the head of the Kyoto Residence of Chōshū Domain upon the recommendation of Katsura Kogorō (later Kido Takayoshi).

In 1864 Ikutaro succeeded in saving the life of Inoue Kaoru by sewing about 50 stitches of tatami needle in the wounds on the whole body without anesthesia because of emergency during the domestic war time. At that time Inoue Kaoru had been severely wounded by the attack of Zokuron-tō (Sodetogi-bashi Bridge (袖解橋) incident), received a near-fatal injury and had been appealing to Kaoru's brother for beheading right after the attack. The episode that then Inoue's mother, holding bloody Inoue, dissuaded his brother from beheading by saying "What's this? If he dies, he'll be unable to do his best for the country".

This episode was introduced in the National Primary School Reader of the 5th Period. Before World War II everyone knew this episode.

Tokoro became staff officer of Takasugi Shinsaku. It is said that Tokoro Ikutarō, temperate and elegant person, didn't fawn although he rendered good service to the country and Chōshū and that even Takasugi Shinsaku with a fiery temperament followed Ikutaro's opinions even if they were against Takasugi's will.

Tokoro Ikutarō died of typhoid in camp at the age of 27.

He was enshrined in Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine in 1869.

Tokoro Ikutarō was awarded the title of ju shi-i no ge (従四位下, Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade) by the recommendation of Inoue Kaoru, Shinagawa Yajirō and so on.

Tokoro Ikutarō was also awarded by the erection of the monument at the site of the demolished Tokoro's house in Ono Town, where Ikutarō as a member of the Tokoros grew up, with the cooperation of Marquis Inoue Saburō, grandson of Inoue Kaoru.

Inoue Kaoru rehabilitated the extinct family, the Tokoros, by bringing up Ikutarō's nephew from the family, the Yabashis, where Ikutarō was born, whose name was Minokichi Yabashi, in Inoue's residence at Torii-Zaka, Tokyo (now, ).

Thus the conferment of the Imperial court rank (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade), the erection of the monument and the rehabilitation of the extinct Tokoro family, namely Inoue Kaoru's wishes, came to be realized with the help of the later generation.

The Statue of Tokoro Ikutarō was built in Akasaka-juku (Nakasendō) where he was born. Inscription says as follows.

Alongside the statue of Inoue Kaoru in Yudaonsen there is the monument to honor Tokoro Ikutarō which says as follows.

References