Maruyama, Sakura

(1840-1899)

   A member of the Meiji government who had been imprisoned before the Meiji restoration for advocating the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate. He was very much influenced by Hirata, Atsutane's kokugaku ideas and briefly held office in the revived jingikan before entering the diplomatic service. He founded the chuaisha group dedicated to suppressing the 'people's rights' movement of the 1870's—1880's and became an influential government voice in shrine matters, working, albeit unsuccessfully, to re-establish the department of divinity (jingikan) which had lasted only three years from 1868-71.