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Katsu Kaishû is considered the "father" of the modern [[Imperial Japanese Navy]].

Katsu Kaishû is considered the "father" of the modern [[Imperial Japanese Navy]].

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]]. As of [[1853]], he was serving the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] as a public works (''kobushin'') official,<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 456.</ref> and was assigned in [[1855]] to aid officials overseeing the management of affairs in [[Shimoda]].<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 6.</ref> Kaishû then 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.  

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]]. As of [[1853]], he was serving the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] as a public works (''kobushin'') official,<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 456.</ref> and was assigned in [[1855]] to aid officials overseeing the management of affairs in [[Shimoda]];<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 6.</ref> later that same year he was assigned to oversee various matters in [[Nagasaki]] and also to undertake training in steamship operation.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 95.</ref> Kaishû then 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.  

Following the [[battle of Toba-Fushimi]], in which Katsu fought for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], he met with [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]] (a leader of the opposing armies) at Saigô's encampment at [[Ikegami Honmonji]]. It is said that it was as a result of this meeting that the peaceful surrender of [[Edo castle]] was arranged. This spared Edo a certain degree of destruction, which might have resulted had the shogunate chosen to hold out further.

Following the [[battle of Toba-Fushimi]], in which Katsu fought for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], he met with [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]] (a leader of the opposing armies) at Saigô's encampment at [[Ikegami Honmonji]]. It is said that it was as a result of this meeting that the peaceful surrender of [[Edo castle]] was arranged. This spared Edo a certain degree of destruction, which might have resulted had the shogunate chosen to hold out further.