Asami Yoichiemon was a Meiji era businessman and politician who served as the Speaker of the Gifu Prefectural Assembly and as a member of the House of Representatives. He was a village headman who strove to rebuild Iwamura township following the turbulent late Edo transition period into the early Meiji era. He spent his own finances to restore Iwamura castle town, which had been in decline due to the many political, financial, social and transportation changes of the Meiji era. In 1906, despite many difficulties, he opened the nation’s 13th electric railway, the Iwamura Electric Tramway. A bronze statue of him stands in Iwamura Castle Ruins Park to commemorate his achievements.