Ex-premier Okuma's leg to be returned to his hometown

Japan Policy & Politics, August 10, 1998

TOKYO, Aug. 5 Kyodo

The amputated right leg of Shigenobu Okuma, a Meiji era statesman and Waseda University founder, will be presented to his native city Saga, Waseda officials said Wednesday.

The leg, which was amputated following an assassination attempt in 1889, has been preserved in formalin at the Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing for more than a century.

It will be sent to Saga after it is treated with resin, the officials said.

The leg was delivered to Waseda on Tuesday, which in turn sent for the resin treatment. The chemical treatment is expected to take about three months.

Okuma's great-great-granddaughter Risa Okuma, 31, said in a telephone interview she was delighted the leg is going to be sent to Saga.

''It is good that it is returning to his hometown,'' said Okuma, who was present when it was delivered to Waseda.

The Waseda founder, who also served as prime minister and foreign minister, sustained severe injuries in a bomb attack in October 1889 in front of the foreignministry building.

The severed leg was kept at the Red Cross hospital because one of the hospital's doctors was present during his operation.

The Saga municipal government is considering keeping the leg in Okuma's family temple, an official said.