"Undated - Shozo Tanaka (1841-1913) was a statesman in the Meiji period, elected for 7 terms as a member of the Lower House. He is widely acknowledged as Japan's ""first conservationist"" A former village headman, in the 1890s he led the fight against the Ashio Copper Mine's pollution of the Watarase and Tone rivers northwest of Tokyo. He submitted a direct petition to the Emperor Meiji on December 10, 1901.  (Photo by Kingendai Photo Library/AFLO)"
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