The Order of the Black Star /Ordre de l'Étoile Noire/ was an order of knighthood established on 1 December 1889 at Porto-Novo by Toffa, future king of Dahomey (today the Republic of Benin). Approved and recognized by the French government on 30 July 1894, after the establishment of the new statutes of 30 August 1892, according this distinction to all those who worked to develop French influence on the west coast of Africa.
Interesting awarding.
Kimura Seishirō (木村 清四郎; July 12, 1861 – September 24, 1934) was a politician and businessman in the Meiji and Taisho periods. He served at the Bank of Japan for 30 years, and was a Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan and an Imperially appointed member of the House of Peers.
Order was made by Arthus Bertrand, Paris.
Kimura Seishirō was born in Mitani Village, Oda County, Bitchu Province (present-day Yakage Town , Oda County, Okayama Prefecture).
After studying chemistry and English in Osaka, he entered Keio Gijuku (now Keio University) in 1884. After graduating from Keio Gijuku, he joined the Shokyousha newspaper and became editor-in-chief of Chugai Shogyo Shinpo (now the Nihon Keizai Shimbun), before becoming president.
He joined the Bank of Japan on the recommendation of Iwasaki, who was the Governor of the Bank of Japan at the time. He became Director of the Banking Department in 1901, Director in 1906, and Deputy Governor in 1916. He successively visited China, Europe, America , and India. During the administration of Prime Minister Kato Takaaki (Finance Minister Hamaguchi Yuko), he wielded the authority of the de facto Governor of the Bank of Japan, replacing Governor Ichiki Otohiko, who was from the Ministry of Finance and had little knowledge of banking operations. On April 18, 1927, he was appointed by Imperial Rule to the House of Peers. He belonged to the Dowa Association, which was made up of independent members of the Diet. Next, on the recommendation of Makino Nobuaki, the former Minister of the Imperial Household and then Minister of the Interior, Kimura was commissioned by the Minister of the Imperial Household to consult on the finances of the Imperial Household.
He served as an advisor to the Bank of Japan and a director of Chiyoda Life Insurance Co., Ltd. He also provided advice and assistance on the establishment of the Chugoku Bank (head office in Okayama City). He passed away in Ikaho, Gunma Prefecture. He is buried in Tama Cemetery .
After studying chemistry and English in Osaka, he entered Keio Gijuku (now Keio University) in 1884. After graduating from Keio Gijuku, he joined the Shokyousha newspaper and became editor-in-chief of Chugai Shogyo Shinpo (now the Nihon Keizai Shimbun), before becoming president.
He joined the Bank of Japan on the recommendation of Iwasaki, who was the Governor of the Bank of Japan at the time. He became Director of the Banking Department in 1901, Director in 1906, and Deputy Governor in 1916. He successively visited China, Europe, America , and India. During the administration of Prime Minister Kato Takaaki (Finance Minister Hamaguchi Yuko), he wielded the authority of the de facto Governor of the Bank of Japan, replacing Governor Ichiki Otohiko, who was from the Ministry of Finance and had little knowledge of banking operations. On April 18, 1927, he was appointed by Imperial Rule to the House of Peers. He belonged to the Dowa Association, which was made up of independent members of the Diet. Next, on the recommendation of Makino Nobuaki, the former Minister of the Imperial Household and then Minister of the Interior, Kimura was commissioned by the Minister of the Imperial Household to consult on the finances of the Imperial Household.
He served as an advisor to the Bank of Japan and a director of Chiyoda Life Insurance Co., Ltd. He also provided advice and assistance on the establishment of the Chugoku Bank (head office in Okayama City). He passed away in Ikaho, Gunma Prefecture. He is buried in Tama Cemetery .