2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

The Public Health Administration of the Home Department during Meiji era, Japan-Considering the Plans of Sensai Nagayo(1838-1902)-

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21720243
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Japanese history
Research Institution	Chubu Gakuin University
Principal Investigator	KOJIMA Kazutaka 中部学院大学, 人間福祉学部, 准教授 (50286217)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2011
Keywords	長與專齋 / 衛生行政 / コレラ / 衛生官僚 / 内務省
Research Abstract	This study presents information about the public health administration of the Home Department during Meiji era, Japan, especially focusing on health bureaucrat Sensai Nagayo(1838-1902), who was entrusted with serving as the first director of the Central Sanitary Bureau and who embarked on great efforts to develop the administration system in modern Japan. Nagayo participated in the Iwakura Mission from 1871 which aimed to investigate the medical education system in the US and Europe. After the exploration in the US, he found the modern sanitary administration system in Europe, especially in Berlin, Germany. After coming back to Japan, Nagayo's influence on public health and public service was broad. For example, he was instrumental in fighting the cholera epidemic in Japan ; he tried to create a relationship between central and local governments to improve the public health system ; and he worked to improve environmental hygienic, participating in legislative efforts on the Sanitary regulations. In this study, I investigated documents and books regarding Nagayo's lectures and opinions about public health administration in Japan and Germany, as well as those of some of his colleagues, e. g., Shinpei Goto(1857-1929), Shibasaburo Kitasato(1853-1931), and so on. I also investigated other aspects of public health administration in Japan and Europe, especially Germany.