Inoue were with Iwakura until the end of his life. He was buried in Asamadai, Minami-Shinagawa. Personal life Iwakura Tomomi's height was about 160 cm. He was born in poverty, and he lived a simple life. He used to like Japanese sake and drank around 90 ml, three times a day. However, because of his health condition and food restrictions, he could drink western wine only instead of Japanese sake. During his life after retirement, he did not exercise at all, and ate very little to the extent he was compared to a bird. Iwakura was very particular about what to eat, and was fond of eating fish, meat, and vegetables, rather than beef and chicken. He also liked the cuisine of Kyoto, and turtle cuisine was one of his favorites. His hobby was Noh dance in plain clothes. He was an open-minded person who put himself in the other person's shoes before forming any opinion. He had a wife, named Mineko, but she died on October 24, 1874. After Mineko's death, he remarried Makiko Noguchi. Tributes Katsu Kaishū "Iwakura was open-minded, and he was unique in court nobles." Tokutomi Sohō "Iwakura was an outstanding person. His appearance from bakumatsu to the early Meiji period was lucky for the Imperial Household, the state, and citizens." "Iwakura was a brave man not only in court nobles but also in politicians." Itō Hirobumi "Iwakura was like a shelf." (It means that when Itō faced the difficult problem, he could consult Iwakura.) Honours From the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (29 December 1876) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (1 November 1882) Order of precedence Junior fifth rank (28th day, 10th month of the ninth year of Tenpo (1838)) Fifth rank (Fourth day, sixth month of the 12th year of Tenpo (1841)) Senior fifth rank (18th day, second month of the second year of Koka (1845)) Fourth rank (10th day, sixth month of the seventh year of Ansei (1854)) Senior fourth rank (Fifth day, first month of the second year of Man'en (1861)) Third rank (Second day, second month of the fourth year of Keio (1868)) Senior second rank (25th day, first month of the second year of Meiji (1869)) First rank (18 May 1876) Senior first rank (20 July 1885; posthumous) Ancestry Notes References Beasley, William G. (1972). The Meiji