Okuma Shigenobu and Imari-Arita Ware
Okuma Shigenobu (1838-1922): Born in Saga Prefecture. Politician of the Meiji (1868-1912) and Taisho (1912-1926) Periods; prime minister, cabinet minister, political party leader, and founder of Tokyo Semmon Gakko (now Waseda University). He allegedly made a proposal of adoption of Japanese Yen to unify the currency system of Japan. 2011 will celebrate the 140th anniversary of the new coins regulation enacted in 1871, the birth of Japanese Yen.
Arita ware: Also known as Imari ware after the port of Imari, the shipping point for the ware. Originally an underglaze blue and white porcelain, Arita ware largely changed to a colorful enameled porcelain after Sakaida Kakiemon perfected an enamel overglaze in the 1640s. Arita ware was produced in large quantities by the first half of the 17th century. Its use spread widely, and from the mid-17th to the mid-18th century it was exported to Europe. Okuma Shigenobu supported for display of Arita / Imari ware in the Vienna World Exposition 1873 and for their export, and made a contribution to their development.