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John Manjirô is among the most famous of 19th century Japanese castaways, and one of the first Japanese to ever travel to the United States.

John Manjirô is among the most famous of 19th century Japanese castaways, and one of the first Japanese to ever travel to the United States.

Originally from Nakahama village, [[Tosa province]], Manjirô and five others in his fishing boat drifted out to sea on [[1840]]/1/5. Dashed up upon some rocks and stranded, he survived in a cave for some time, eating mainly fish, until he was found and rescued by an American [[whaling]] ship the following year. They brought him back with them to [[Hawaii]] and then to Massachusetts, where he learned English, Western techniques of navigation, whaling, and coopering (the making of barrels), before returning to Japan in [[1851]]. On this return voyage, he and two of his compatriots were first brought by an American ship to [[Mabuni]], near the southern tip of [[Okinawa Island]], then aboard [[Kagoshima han|Kagoshima domain]] vessels to [[Kagoshima]].<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 293.</ref> Manjirô would later serve as an interpreter during the shogunate's encounters with [[Commodore Perry]].

Originally from Nakahama village, [[Tosa province]], Manjirô and five others in his fishing boat drifted out to sea on [[1840]]/1/5. Dashed up upon some rocks and stranded, he survived in a cave for some time, eating mainly fish, until he was found and rescued by an American [[whaling]] ship the following year. They brought him back with them to [[Hawaii]] and then to Massachusetts, where he learned English, Western techniques of navigation, whaling, and coopering (the making of barrels), before returning to Japan in [[1851]]. On this return voyage, he and two of his compatriots were first brought by an American ship to [[Mabuni]], near the southern tip of [[Okinawa Island]], then aboard [[Kagoshima han|Kagoshima domain]] vessels to [[Kagoshima]].<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 293.</ref> The three were then conveyed by Kagoshima to [[Nagasaki]], where they were imprisoned and interrogated by ''[[Nagasaki bugyo|Nagasaki bugyô]]'' [[Maki Yoshinori]],<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô, vol. 1, 327.</ref> and then returned to [[Tosa han]].<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô, vol. 1, 366.</ref>

 

In Tosa, Manjirô was made an instructor at the Kyôjukan [[domain school]], was given a one-person [[stipend]], and was granted use of the surname Nakahama.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô, vol. 1, 386.</ref> In late [[1853]], he was granted an official position by the shogunate as a ''fushin yaku'' (public works official, or construction official).<ref>Ishin Shiryo Koyo, vol. 1, 502.</ref> He would later serve as an interpreter during the shogunate's encounters with [[Commodore Perry]].

Manjirô's experiences in the United States are recorded in a volume titled ''Hyôkyaku danki'' (漂客談記), which he dictated.<ref>Plaques at [[Sakuragicho Station|Sakuragichô Station]].[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/16673156149/sizes/k/]</ref>

Manjirô's experiences in the United States are recorded in a volume titled ''Hyôkyaku danki'' (漂客談記), which he dictated.<ref>Plaques at [[Sakuragicho Station|Sakuragichô Station]].[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/16673156149/sizes/k/]</ref>

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