Ikutaro Aoyagi went to the United States to study, explored Peru in 1893 and published the "Peru Jijo" (Peru Report) the next year, and afterwards became a manager for an emigration agent, Masataka Omi. He established the Tokyo Syndicate together with Kantake Oura and other project supprters and was dispatched to Brazil. Involved in the selection of land and the negotiations with the São Paulo State Government, he made important contributions to the establishment of the Iguape Colony. When the Brazil Colonization Company was established in 1913, he was appointed as a director of the company. Aoyagi was against the merger of the Brazil Colonization Company with the Kaigai Kogyo (Overseas Enterprise Company), his opinion, however, was not accepted and he became an director of the Kaigai Kogyo (Overseas Enterprise Company). Aoyagi died in his Tokyo home in February1944.
References: Naoka Mamiya's "Aoyagi Ikutaro Kaikyudan" (Oral reminiscences of Aoyagi Ikutaro), pp. 1-10.
