Statue of Ichizo Hayashi

The Hayashi Ichizō Statue is a bronze statue in Kitahama, Chuo Ward, Osaka City, created to honor the achievements of Hayashi Ichizō—known as the “father of welfare commissioners”—for establishing the Hōmen Iin (district commissioner) system. Hayashi Ichizō was born as the eldest son of Hayashi Shinzō, a samurai of the Kumamoto Domain. After studying under difficult circumstances, he attended Seiseikō Middle School, the Fifth Higher School, and graduated in July 1896 from the Imperial University’s Faculty of Law, Department of Political Science. In May 1899, he became a professor at the Police and Prison School, and subsequently served in a range of posts including counselor in the Home Ministry, secretary to Yamaguchi Prefecture, head of its First Department, and posts such as administrative officer and department head in Hiroshima Prefecture, as well as Director of the Home Affairs Department of Niigata Prefecture. In December 1917 he became Governor of Osaka Prefecture, and during his roughly 2 years and 5 months in office, he created the Hōsei Iin (Welfare/Correction Commissioner) system—considered the predecessor of today’s welfare commissioners—while also strengthening prefectural administration by appointing talented personnel. After leaving office, he chose Osaka as his permanent home and served in roles such as president of a trust bank, chairman of a rice exchange, and executive at Nakayama Steel Works, acting as a key figure supporting the business world. He passed away in 1952 at the age of 86.