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[[Image:Katsu kaishu.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Katsu Kaishu in Edo period]]

[[Image:Katsu kaishu.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Katsu Kaishu in Edo period]]

[[Image:Katsu-kaishu1.gif|left|frame|Photograph of '''Katsu Kaishu'''.]]

[[Image:Katsu-kaishu1.gif|left|frame|Photograph of '''Katsu Kaishu'''.]]

Born into a [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] ''[[hatamoto]]'' family, young Kaishû attended classes in [[rangaku|Western studies]] and then studied naval science from the Dutch naval detachment in [[Nagasaki]]. Kaishû rose in rank to become commissioner of the Tokugawa navy and captained [[Kanrin Maru|Japan's first cross-Pacific journey]] to [[San Francisco]]. Kaishû believed that Japan’s future was best served to open itself to the world and this put his life in jeopardy at the hands of Japan’s [[sonno|pro-Imperial]], [[joi|anti-foreign]] radicals. Originally intent on cutting down Kaishû, [[Sakamoto Ryoma|Sakamoto Ryôma]] became hooked on Kaishû's vision for Japan and became his leading disciple. Kaishû protected the outlaw Ryôma and other ronin in a naval academy that Kaishû established in [[Kobe]] and installed Ryôma as its head. Kaishû also surrendered [[Edo]] to pro-Imperial forces without resistance in order to avoid catastrophic losses of life and property. Kaishû went on to serve as naval commissioner in the [[Meiji period]] until his retirement from public life.

 

Kaishû was born in [[Edo]] in [[1823]], the son of low-ranking ''[[hatamoto]]'' [[Katsu Kokichi]], and in his youth attended classes in [[rangaku|Western studies]] and then studied naval science from the Dutch naval detachment in [[Nagasaki]]. Kaishû rose in rank to become commissioner of the Tokugawa navy in [[1860]] and captained [[Kanrin Maru|Japan's first cross-Pacific journey]] to [[San Francisco]]. Kaishû believed that Japan’s future was best served to open itself to the world and this put his life in jeopardy at the hands of Japan’s [[sonno|pro-Imperial]], [[joi|anti-foreign]] radicals. Originally intent on cutting down Kaishû, [[Sakamoto Ryoma|Sakamoto Ryôma]] became hooked on Kaishû's vision for Japan and became his leading disciple. Kaishû protected the outlaw Ryôma and other ronin in a naval academy that Kaishû established in [[Kobe]] and installed Ryôma as its head. Kaishû also contributed to the surrender of [[Edo]] to pro-Imperial forces without resistance in order to avoid catastrophic losses of life and property.  

 

In the [[Meiji period]], Kaishû was granted the title of ''Hakushaku'' in the new Meiji [[kazoku|peerage]], and went on to serve as head of the [[Privy Council]] for a time, and also as naval commissioner until his retirement from public life. Following his death in [[1899]], he was buried with his wife near the site of their home, on the shores of Senzoku Pond, in what is today ''Senzoku-ike kôen'' (Senzoku Pond Public Park) in [[Tokyo]].

==Katsu Kaishu in Fiction==

==Katsu Kaishu in Fiction==

*Jansen, Marius B. ''Sakamoto Ryoma and the Meiji Restoration''. Columbia University Press, 1994.

*Jansen, Marius B. ''Sakamoto Ryoma and the Meiji Restoration''. Columbia University Press, 1994.

* ''[[Rekishi Dokuhon]]'' 2007/1 issue

* ''[[Rekishi Dokuhon]]'' 2007/1 issue

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Bakumatsu]][[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Bakumatsu]][[Category:Edo Period]]