Pretty much everything I know about Japan comes from watching NHK World, the free streaming service sponsored by the Japanese government. While I’d love to go there, I’m probably too old. I wouldn’t want to go alone, that’s for sure and I really don’t like flying. So I’m stuck watching NHK with my morning coffee.
The last couple of morning sessions were spent watching a two-part series on a virtually unknown historical figure who revolutionized the finances and social life in Yamagata prefecture. I’ll link to the first episode at the end but for now, think about social security for seniors and child allowances for poor farmers. Were those things part of life 250 years ago anywhere in the world? Yamagata has Uesugi Harunori to thank for that as well as reforms that were at least a century ahead of their time. On top of that, Uesugi Harunori had the sense to put rice in storage for times of famine, asking people to use edible wild plants to subsidize their menus, and created home industries to ensure long-term income for his people. Incredible, right?
Watch the episodes and learn all about this man who is still revered in Yamagata today. Heck, schoolchildren sing his name in their songs and have his picture right their on the school walls.
Note: Not to confuse the issue but Uesugyi Harunori adopted a pen name ‘Yozan’ after he retired. One of his guides is ‘Katemono’ which detailed how to use wild plants to supplement the diet in times of famine.
上杉 治憲
Here’s the link to the first episode. It’s free everywhere on NHK World:
Uesugi Yozan: An Economic Miracle
That’s it for a cold Sunday in Toronto.
Cheers!
Brian Mahoney
January 5th, 2024