Edwin Dun
Encyclopedia
Edwin Dun was a rancher from Ohio
who was employed as an o-yatoi gaikokujin
in Hokkaidō by the Hokkaidō Development Commission (Kaitakushi) and advised the Japanese government on modernizing agricultural techniques during the Meiji modernization period
.
Dun was a native of Chillicothe, Ohio
and had studied at Miami University
. After he inherited his father's ranch, he raised beef cattle
and race horses, and wrote a number of papers on scientific methods in ranching.
, the chief foreign advisor to the Meiji government's Hokkaidō Development Commission. Dun's task was to create a new cattle and dairy industry out of largely undeveloped island of Hokkaido
. When he came to Japan, he brought with him around 50 head of cattle, 100 head of sheep, and a number agricultural implements to be used as samples to be copied by local Japanese artisans. He settled initially at an intermediary experimental farm in Tokyo, teaching up to seventy students assigned by the government in animal husbandry
, veterinary medicine
and basic techniques of selective breeding
. Dun also married a Japanese woman (Tsuru) in 1875, which led him to extend his contract in Japan several times, despite difficulties such as the Hokkaidō Colonization Office Scandal of 1881.
From 1876 until 1883, Dun lived in Sapporo, where he engaged in a number of pursuits, including the establishment of farm horse and race horse ranches, including the first two thoroughbred stallions in Japan, a pig farm with 80 hogs brought in from the United States, and a dairy farm, together with factories for the production of butter and cheese. He also planted a number of experimental lots to research the types of crops most suited to Hokkaido's climate, and also built Hokkaido's first horse race track
. With the assistance of Louis Boehmer
, who discovered native hops
in Hokkaidō, he established a successful beer brewery, the forerunner of modern Sapporo Breweries
. Dun is also credited with initiating government policies to eradicate wolves with strychnine
and hunting for bounties, which drove the Hokkaidō wolf to extinction by 1895.
He was a close friend, and eventually brother in law, of the explorer and naturalist Thomas Blakiston
.
in 1883-84 Dun was appointed the Second Secretary of the American Legation in Tokyo. In October 1883 Mrs. Dun (Tsuru) died. Dun considered resigning but at the end of the year married again, to a woman named Yama Takahira. Dun was later promoted to First Secretary. Finally in 1892 Dun was appointed as United States ambassador to Japan, arriving back in Tokyo
on July 14, 1893, serving in that post until July 2, 1897. During his tenure, the First Sino-Japanese War
took place, and Dun made efforts to negotiate peace, using the American diplomatic service as a conduit for the Japanese and Chinese governments to send messages and conduct negotiations.
representative of the Standard Oil
company. Dun was notable for advocating involvement of Standard Oil in the Echigo oil fields, which eventually resulted in failed investment of over 8 million yen. He died at his home in Tokyo in 1931. His grave is at Aoyama Cemetery
in Tokyo
. His former home in Hokkaidō is now preserved as a memorial museum.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
who was employed as an o-yatoi gaikokujin
O-yatoi gaikokujin
The Foreign government advisors in Meiji Japan, known in Japanese as oyatoi gaikokujin , were those foreign advisors hired by the Japanese government for their specialized knowledge to assist in the modernization of Japan at the end of the Bakufu and during the Meiji era. The term is sometimes...
in Hokkaidō by the Hokkaidō Development Commission (Kaitakushi) and advised the Japanese government on modernizing agricultural techniques during the Meiji modernization period
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
.
Dun was a native of Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
and had studied at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. After he inherited his father's ranch, he raised beef cattle
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
and race horses, and wrote a number of papers on scientific methods in ranching.
Agricultural adviser
Dun was hired in 1873 by Albert Capron son of former United States Commissioner of Agriculture Horace CapronHorace Capron
Horace Capron was an American businessman and agriculturalist, a founder of Laurel, Maryland, a Union officer in the American Civil War, the United States Commissioner of Agriculture under U.S. Presidents Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S...
, the chief foreign advisor to the Meiji government's Hokkaidō Development Commission. Dun's task was to create a new cattle and dairy industry out of largely undeveloped island of Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. When he came to Japan, he brought with him around 50 head of cattle, 100 head of sheep, and a number agricultural implements to be used as samples to be copied by local Japanese artisans. He settled initially at an intermediary experimental farm in Tokyo, teaching up to seventy students assigned by the government in animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
, veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
and basic techniques of selective breeding
Selective breeding
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
. Dun also married a Japanese woman (Tsuru) in 1875, which led him to extend his contract in Japan several times, despite difficulties such as the Hokkaidō Colonization Office Scandal of 1881.
From 1876 until 1883, Dun lived in Sapporo, where he engaged in a number of pursuits, including the establishment of farm horse and race horse ranches, including the first two thoroughbred stallions in Japan, a pig farm with 80 hogs brought in from the United States, and a dairy farm, together with factories for the production of butter and cheese. He also planted a number of experimental lots to research the types of crops most suited to Hokkaido's climate, and also built Hokkaido's first horse race track
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. With the assistance of Louis Boehmer
Louis Boehmer
Louis Boehmer was an ethnic German-American agronomist and government advisor in Meiji period Japan who later worked as a success entrepreneur in Yokohama.-Biography:...
, who discovered native hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
in Hokkaidō, he established a successful beer brewery, the forerunner of modern Sapporo Breweries
Sapporo Breweries
is a Japanese brewery founded in 1876. Their world headquarters are in Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo. The company purchased the Canadian company Sleeman Breweries in 2006.The company has five breweries in Japan as well as the Sleeman brewery in Canada...
. Dun is also credited with initiating government policies to eradicate wolves with strychnine
Strychnine
Strychnine is a highly toxic , colorless crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion...
and hunting for bounties, which drove the Hokkaidō wolf to extinction by 1895.
He was a close friend, and eventually brother in law, of the explorer and naturalist Thomas Blakiston
Thomas Blakiston
Thomas Wright Blakiston was an English explorer and naturalist.Born in Lymington, Hampshire, England, Blakiston was the son of Major John Blakiston, second son of Sir Matthew Blakiston, 2nd Baronet...
.
United States ambassador to Japan
After a visit to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1883-84 Dun was appointed the Second Secretary of the American Legation in Tokyo. In October 1883 Mrs. Dun (Tsuru) died. Dun considered resigning but at the end of the year married again, to a woman named Yama Takahira. Dun was later promoted to First Secretary. Finally in 1892 Dun was appointed as United States ambassador to Japan, arriving back in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
on July 14, 1893, serving in that post until July 2, 1897. During his tenure, the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
took place, and Dun made efforts to negotiate peace, using the American diplomatic service as a conduit for the Japanese and Chinese governments to send messages and conduct negotiations.
Oil company representative
After 1897, Dun was the JapaneseJapanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
representative of the Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
company. Dun was notable for advocating involvement of Standard Oil in the Echigo oil fields, which eventually resulted in failed investment of over 8 million yen. He died at his home in Tokyo in 1931. His grave is at Aoyama Cemetery
Aoyama Cemetery
is a cemetery in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The cemetery is also famous for its cherry blossoms, and at the season of hanami, many people visit.-History:...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. His former home in Hokkaidō is now preserved as a memorial museum.
External links
- Edwin Dun : reminiscences of nearly half a century in Japan, circa 1919 Dun's autobiography in which he describes life on a farm in central Ohio, the events that led to his journey to Japan, and his life in Japan.