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Birthplace of Naoteru and Naoharu Kataoka

The Kataoka brothers, who came from Tosa to leave their mark on Japan’s financial world Birthplace of Naoteru and Naoharu Kataoka

Welcome

A separate residence was constructed at the birthplace of Naoteru and Naoharu at the request of their mother Nobuko as a place for them to use when the brothers returned home. This building has been renovated to have a similar layout to the former home and is a one-story building with a tile roof.

On the western side, there is an authentic garden arranged with a pond, and on the eastern side a local museum has been established.

Even today, the home is known as “the villa” and is well-known among the local people.

Kataoka Brothers

The brothers were raised to take after their father, Magogoro, a member of the Tosa Loyalist Party, and also had the devoted support of their mother Nobuko. They overcame poverty and made great strides as businessmen who drove the Japanese economic world in the Meiji and Taisho periods.

Naoteru, the elder brother, made use of his experiences living abroad during his service with the Navy: having served as the Osaka branch manager of the Bank of Japan, he went on to found Osaka Gas and served in successive roles as president of several businesses, including the Hanshin Electric Railway and the Nankai Electric Railway. He came to be known as “the mogul of Nakayamadera.”

Naoharu, the younger brother, enjoyed the favor of Prince Hirobumi Ito and participated in the civil service. At the age of just 29, he contributed to the founding of the Nippon Life Insurance Company. After serving as president of Nippon Life, he went on to establish several companies that included Kyoto’s Miyako Hotel and the Nara Hotel and to serve as Minister of Finance in the Wakatsuki Cabinet.

Facility Introduction

Facility

Even now, you can hear the pulse of the Meiji Restoration.

Many samurai called at the Kataoka residence during the final days of the Edo period.

It is said that the members of the Loyalist Party held secret discussions in the inner room to evade the relentless surveillance of the Tosa Clan.

This group included comrades such as Torataro Yoshimura, who went on to become lordless samurai.

The Kataoka family circa 1915

The Birthplace of Naoteru and Naoharu Kataoka is the birthplace and Kataoka family residence dating back to the mid-Edo period when the family relocated to Tsuno circa 1700.

Because Naojiro Kataoka built a new home during the An’ei period, this residence was inherited by Naojiro’s younger brother Naoshi (Magogoro’s grandfather).

The family patriarch at the end of the Edo period, Magogoro, was active in the same Tosa Loyalist Party as figures such as Ryoma Sakamoto and Torataro Yoshimura, and sold valuable farmlands and family assets to raise funds to support his compatriots. Magogoro made great efforts for the sake of Japan, but passed away in this home before the Restoration arrived.

Fees/Access

[Guide for Visitors]

●Fees: No charge

●Hours of Operation: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

●Closed: Tuesdays, national holidays, New Year’s holidays

●Address: 468 Nagano, Tsuno-cho

●Phone: 0889-55-3810

●Parking: Available

Please use the parking lot at the Tsuno-cho Town Office in front of the house.

Inquiries

Tsuno-cho Local Museum

468 Nagano, Tsuno-cho, Takaoka-gun, 781-6251

TEL 0889-55-3810

Tsuno-cho Board of Education

No. 2870 Chikaraishi, Tsuno-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi-ken 785-0595

TEL 0889-62-2258 FAX 0889-62-2384