TAKUSARI KOKI

Takusari Koki is noted for his groundbreaking invention of a Japanese shorthand system (sokki) in 1884. Sokki allowed political debates and oral stories, such as the ghost tales of San’yutei Encho, to be quickly transcribed from the stage and published in newspapers or as serialized books, making them more widely available. Takusari was born in Iwate Prefecture, attended Tokyo University, and, while staying with an acquaintance at a gold mine in Akita Prefecture, met a foreign mining engineer who used shorthand. Takusari asked about the curious-looking marks and over time came up with a similar system for Japanese, which he began teaching to others after founding Japan’s first stenographic school in Tokyo.

See also GENBUN ITCHI.