Yamamoto Kakuma

Yamamoto Kakuma (山本覚馬) (1828-1892) was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period, who went on to become an educator and politician in the Meiji era. A native of Aizu, Kakuma served the Aizu daimyo Matsudaira Katamori during the latter's tenure in Kyoto, and fought at the Battle of Hamaguri Gate (August 20, 1864) and the early stages of the Boshin War (1868 - 1869). He was also an instructor at Nisshinkan, the Aizu domain's school for samurai. Around the start of the Boshin War, Kakuma lost his eyesight and was taken into custody by the Satsuma Domain. Later, he was able to become a member of the prefectural assembly of Kyoto. After becoming a Christian, Kakuma worked with Joseph Hardy Neesima to found Doshisha University in Kyoto. Kakuma himself served as the university's second president. Kakuma's sister was Neesima Yae, who also fought in the Boshin War.

Apart from his work in education, Kakuma was also an author. One of his best-known works was a lengthy work on national reform, penned during his captivity in 1868.

Kakuma was portrayed by actor Ryū Raita in the 1987 miniseries Byakkotai.