Mitsukuri Rinsho

Mitsukuri was born in Edo (present-day Tokyo) to a noted family of scholars working for the Tokugawa bakufu. He studied rangaku and received a posting to the Bansho Shirabesho, the Shōgun's research institute for foreign technology. In 1867, he was selected to accompany the Shogunate's expedition to the Paris World Exposition, which proved to be an eye-opener.

On his return to Japan, Mitsukuri joined the new Meiji government as a translator. He worked closely with foreign advisors from France, especially Gustave Emile Boissonnade, de Fontarabie on drafting Japan's new commercial law and civil law codes. He also served on the Genrōin, and was active in the Meirokusha.

He later served as Vice Minister of Justice from 1888–1889, the House of Peers and as chief justice of the Administrative Court. He was also president of Wafutsu University, the predecessor of Hosei University. Shortly before his death, he was ennobled with the title of danshaku (baron) under the kazoku peerage system.

• Sims, Richard. French Policy Towards the Bakufu and Meiji Japan 1854-1894.RoutledgeCurzon( 1998). ISBN 978-1-873410-61-5
• Wolferen, Karol van. The Enigma of Japanese Power: People and Politics in a Stateless Nation. Vintage; Reprint edition (1990). ISBN 978-0-679-72802-3