孫文

Yamada Yoshimasa (1868-1900), with an original name Ryokichi courtesy name Ziyu, came from Hirosaki city, Yomiuri, Japan. He started learning Chinese at an early age and later worked in China. During the First Sino-Japanese War, Yamada was appointed as a translator in the Army and assisted Liang Qichao to escape Japan during the Hundred Days' Reform in China. Yamada met Sun Yat-sen for the first time in July, 1899 and was immediately drawn to Sun's revolutionary vision. Yamada participated in the Huizhou uprising after organizing the event with Sun in the Shanghai Asahi Hall in the summer of 1900. He followed Sun's order to join Zheng Shi-Liang in Huizhou but did not survive the war. Yamada was the first Japanese who sacrificed his life during the revolution. After the establishment of the Republic of China, Sun went to Japan and expressed his gratitude by composing the poem inscribed on Yamada's tombstone. Yamada's brother, Yamada Saburo, also followed Sun's footstep until the founder of the nation passed away. Yamada Yoshio's tombstone was installed in the Teisho Temple in the town of Bodaiji where the Yamada family resided. Sun Yat-sen showed his deepest condolence by sending his confidante Liao Zhongkai to witness the ceremony on October, 1919.