Oshima Takato (大島高任)
Takato OSHIMA (1826 - 1901) was a mining scientist of the Meiji period. He was born in Nanbu Domain. He studied under Genpo MITSUKURI and Shindo TSUBOI, and studied mining technology in Nagasaki. He subsequently returned to his domain and made efforts in mine development, and after the Meiji Restoration, he accompanied the Iwakura Mission (a Japanese diplomatic journey to Europe and the United States between 1871 and 1873 by the top officials of the new Meiji government) to visit and study mines in Europe, and after returning to Japan, he became the first chairman of Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Japan.
Later in life, he was also involved in reclamation of Nasuno district, and was engaged in establishment of a vineyard and a winery.