The first Western-style bronze statue in Japan, this statue of the military leader Omura Masujiro instantly became a new Tokyo landmark after it was completed, thanks to the volunteer efforts of his followers in 1893.
It is 12 meters tall and was produced by the sculptor Okuma Ujihiro.
Wearing a tight-sleeved haori coat and short hakama divided skirt and holding binoculars in his left hand, the statue is said to depict Omura gazing at the Shogitai (former Tokugawa retainers opposed to the Meiji government) holed up in Ueno to the northeast from Edo Castle’s Fujimi Turret.
The pedestal bears an inscription praising Omura by the statesman Prince Sanjo Sanetomi.
An iron fence with the design of a bow and arrow and eight cannons were previously installed, but they were removed and donated to the Ministry of the Army in 1943.
Traces of the iron fence can still be seen on the base.
Omura (Murata Zoroku) is known as “the father of the Japanese Army” and was the protagonist of a work by the historical novelist Shiba Ryotaro. Born in Choshu Domain (now Yamaguchi), he excelled in Western studies and became a member of the new government after the Meiji Restoration, laying the foundation for a modern military force.
He also made the decision to have Shokonsha, the precursor to Yasukuni Jinja, built on top of Kudan Slope. However, Omura was attacked by disgruntled ex-samurai in Kyoto and seriously injured. He died in Osaka in 1869 at the age of 47, just after the establishment of Shokonsha.