born Sept. 25, 1776, Akita, Japan
died Oct. 4, 1843, Akita
Leader of the Japanese Restoration Shint 014D; school.
He settled in Edo (modern Tokyo) at age 20 and became a disciple of Motoori Norinaga . Hirata sought to develop a Shint 014D; theological system offering principles for social and political action. He proclaimed the natural superiority of Japan and championed the imperial line. For criticizing the Tokugawa shogunate (see Tokugawa period ), which had reduced the emperor to a powerless symbol, he was punished by being confined to his birthplace for the rest of his life. His theories helped bring about the shogunate's overthrow, and he influenced 20th-century Shint 014D; and Japanese nationalism.