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The Bansho Shirabesho (roughly, "Institute for Examination of Foreign Books") was an institute established by the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] for the study and teaching of Western Studies.

The Bansho Shirabesho (roughly, "Institute for Examination of Foreign Books") was an institute established by the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] for the study and teaching of Western Studies.

Originally established in [[1855]] as the Yôgakusho (roughly, "Western Studies Institute") on the former site of a firefighters' station in Ogawamachi, in the Kanda neighborhood of [[Edo]], the institute was moved in 1855/12 to the former site of the residence of Nakaoku [[kosho|koshô]] [[Takemoto Masatsune]], at Kudanzaka.

Originally established in [[1855]] as the Yôgakusho (roughly, "Western Studies Institute") on the former site of a firefighters' station in Ogawamachi, in the Kanda neighborhood of [[Edo]], the institute was moved in 1855/12 to the former site of the residence of Nakaoku [[kosho|koshô]] [[Takemoto Masatsune|Takemoto ''Zusho no kami'' Masatsune]], at Kudanzaka.

Scholars such as [[Koga Kinichiro|Koga Kin'ichirô]] and [[Mitsukuri Genpo]] were appointed to prominent positions in the school.

Scholars such as [[Koga Kinichiro|Koga Kin'ichirô]] and [[Mitsukuri Genpo]] were appointed to prominent positions in the school. Not only shogunate retainers but also retainers of the various domains were permitted to study at the institute.<ref name=marker>Plaques on-site at former location of the Bansho shirabesho. Chiyoda-ku, Kudan minami 1-6.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15438576435/sizes/h/]</ref>

The institute was renamed the ''Bansho Shirabesho'' in [[1856]]/2, and was relocated yet again, later that month, to a different site within the Kudanzaka-shita neighborhood. Mitsukuri Genpo and [[Sugita Seikei]] were among those appointed to serve as instructors there; [[Tokushima han|Tokushima domain]] retainer [[Takahata Goro|Takahata Gorô]] (Michizumi), [[Satsuma han|Kagoshima domain]] retainer [[Terashima Munenori]], [[Choshu han|Hagi domain]] retainer [[Tojo Eian|Tôjô Eian]], [[Okayama han|Okayama domain]] retainer [[Harada Keisaku]], [[Sanda han|Sanda domain]] retainer [[Kawamoto Komin|Kawamoto Kômin]], [[Sakura han|Sakura domain]] retainer [[Tezuka Ritsuzo|Tezuka Ritsuzô]], and [[Annaka han|Annaka domain]] retainer [[Tajima Junsuke]] were among those who served as assistant instructors.

The institute was renamed the ''Bansho Shirabesho'' in [[1856]]/2, and was relocated yet again, later that month, to a different site within the Kudanzaka-shita neighborhood. Mitsukuri Genpo and [[Sugita Seikei]] were among those appointed to serve as instructors there; [[Tokushima han|Tokushima domain]] retainer [[Takahata Goro|Takahata Gorô]] (Michizumi), [[Satsuma han|Kagoshima domain]] retainer [[Terashima Munenori]], [[Choshu han|Hagi domain]] retainer [[Tojo Eian|Tôjô Eian]], [[Okayama han|Okayama domain]] retainer [[Harada Keisaku]], [[Sanda han|Sanda domain]] retainer [[Kawamoto Komin|Kawamoto Kômin]], [[Sakura han|Sakura domain]] retainer [[Tezuka Ritsuzo|Tezuka Ritsuzô]], and [[Annaka han|Annaka domain]] retainer [[Tajima Junsuke]] were among those who served as assistant instructors.

That same year, all Western books in the shogunate's collections were relocated to the Bansho shirabesho to be kept there. The various ''daimyô'' houses were then ordered to submit lists of the Western books in their collections, along with copies of translations that had been produced. The shogunate also ordered that all newly-published Western books and translations had to pass through inspectors (or censors) at the Bansho shirabesho.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 203.</ref>

That same year, all Western books in the shogunate's collections were relocated to the Bansho shirabesho to be kept there. The various ''daimyô'' houses were then ordered to submit lists of the Western books in their collections, along with copies of translations that had been produced. The shogunate also ordered that all newly-published Western books and translations had to pass through inspectors (or censors) at the Bansho shirabesho.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 203.</ref> A painting or illustration section was also established within the institute; a number of [[Meiji period]] Japanese painters in the [[yoga|Western-style]] studied there.<ref name=marker/>

The institution was opened for classes in [[1857]]/1. For a brief time at the end of that year, the ''Bansho shirabesho'' was commissioned to serve as lodgings for US consul general [[Townsend Harris]]; during his stay, the institute had its activities shifted to Japanese Studies.

The institution was opened for classes in [[1857]]/1. For a brief time at the end of that year, the ''Bansho shirabesho'' was commissioned to serve as lodgings for US consul general [[Townsend Harris]]; during his stay, the institute had its activities shifted to Japanese Studies.

An explanatory plaque marking the former location of the institute stands today just outside Kudanshita subway station, near the Shôwakan museum/archives.

 

An explanatory plaque marking the former location of the institute stands today just outside Kudanshita subway station, near the Shôwakan museum/archives.<ref name=marker/>

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