born Sept. 20, 1830, Nagato province, Japan
died Nov. 21, 1859, Edo
Japanese teacher of military tactics in the domain of Chōshū .
He studied "Dutch learning" (European studies) in Nagasaki and Edo (modern Tokyo) and was deeply influenced by the pro-emperor thinkers in the domain of Mito . His radical pro-emperor stance influenced young samurai in Chōshū to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate. He was executed for an assassination plot against the shogun 's representative in Kyōto. See also Kido Takayoshi ; Tokugawa period .