Shō Jun (1873–1945), Date of Birth, Date of Death

Shō Jun (1873–1945)

son of Shō Tai, the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom

Date of Birth: 02-May-1873

Date of Death: 17-Jun-1945

Profession: businessperson

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Sho Jun (? ?, May 2, 1873 - June 17, 1945) was a prince of the Ryukyu Kingdom, the fourth son of King Sho Tai, the last king of the kingdom.
He played a major role in founding many 20th century institutions in Okinawa, including the Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper, the Bank of Okinawa, the Taisho Gekijo theater, and a canning factory, and was a major figure in both the Japanese political and investment worlds of his time. Following the abolition of the kingdom in 1879, Sho Jun, along with the rest of the Ryukyuan royal family, was made a baron in the new Japanese kazoku system of peerage.
His father, King Sho Tai, was made marquis (??, koshaku); after his death in 1901, Sho Jun's eldest brother Sho Ten inherited the title.
After the end of the formal mourning period, the Sho family gave up the trappings, rituals, and formal costume of Ryukyuan royalty and adopted the lifestyle and customs of the Japanese aristocracy.Sho Jun was elected to the House of Peers of the Imperial Diet in 1904, and served two terms.
After resigning his government post, he took over the administration of the Sho family's finances and other formal affairs.In his later years, he managed the Tobaru Plantation in Shuri, and created a tropical botanical garden on Gogayama in Nakijin.
He became known as a man of culture and refinement in many fields of interest and as a calligrapher as well. Sho Jun was killed in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.