was a samurai of provincial origin who is best known as the father of the Japanese philosopher

Japanese philosophy

Japanese Philosophy has historically been a fusion of both indigenous Shinto and the continental religions, such as Buddhism and Confucianism. Formerly heavily influenced by both Chinese philosophy and Indian philosophy, as with Mitogaku and Zen, much modern Japanese philosophy is now also...

 Kuki Shūzō

Kuki Shuzo

was a prominent Japanese academic, philosopher and university professor.-Early life:Shūzō was the fourth child of Baron Kuki Ryūichi a high bureaucrat in the Meiji Ministry for Culture and Education...

 (九鬼 周造).

In the early years of the Meiji period

Meiji period

The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...

, after studying under Fukuzawa Yukichi

Fukuzawa Yukichi

was a Japanese author, writer, teacher, translator, entrepreneur and political theorist who founded Keio University. His ideas about government and social institutions made a lasting impression on a rapidly changing Japan during the Meiji Era...

 (福澤 諭吉), he took a post in the Japanese Ministry of Education, specializing in cultural policy. In 1884 he was appointed Japanese ambassador to the United States. Complications in his career arose when his wife Hatsu had an affair with Okakura Kakuzō

Okakura Kakuzo

was a Japanese scholar who contributed to the development of arts in Japan. Outside of Japan, he is chiefly remembered today as the author of The Book of Tea.-Biography:...

 (岡倉 覚三). He eventually returned to Japan where he continued to work in the Ministry of Education

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)

The , also known as MEXT or Monkashō, is one of the ministries of the Japanese government.The Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871....

, and play a role as a patron of the arts.