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*''Japanese'': 私学校 or 士学校 ''(shi gakkou)''

*''Japanese'': 私学校 or 士学校 ''(shi gakkou)''

''Shigakkô'' were private centers of instruction for samurai youth, established and operated by pro-samurai figures such as [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]], and prominent particularly in the early years of the [[Meiji period]], particularly in [[Kagoshima prefecture]]. The term can be written in two ways, with the homophones 「私学校」 and 「士学校」, both pronounced ''shigakkô'', meaning "private school" and "warrior/aristocrat school," respectively.

''Shigakkô'' were private centers of instruction for samurai youth, established and operated by pro-samurai figures such as [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]], and prominent particularly in the early years of the [[Meiji period]], particularly in [[Kagoshima prefecture]]. Many functioned as military academies, with a particular focus on martial skills, military strategy, leadership, and so forth, rather than a more civilian and liberal curriculum. The term can be written in two ways, with the homophones 「私学校」 and 「士学校」, both pronounced ''shigakkô'', meaning "private school" and "warrior/aristocrat school," respectively.

In [[1877]], on the eve of the [[Satsuma Rebellion]], there were roughly 7,000 such schools in Kagoshima prefecture (formerly [[Satsuma han]]) alone, with a total enrollment of roughly 20,000 students.

Those in Kagoshima originated with two schools established in [[1874]]/6, on the former grounds of the stables of [[Kagoshima castle]]. These two schools, one dedicated to the training of gunmen, and one cannon operators, were headed respectively by [[Shinohara Kunimoto]] and [[Murata Shinpachi]]. Twelve other such schools were established soon afterwards within [[Kagoshima]] City, including the [[Satsuma Army Cadet School]] for children, founded by Saigô with money from donations given in appreciation for his service, and that of his men, in the [[Boshin War]] which accompanied the [[Meiji Restoration]]; another 136 ''shigakkô'' were soon established elsewhere in the prefecture as well. In [[1877]], on the eve of the [[Satsuma Rebellion]], there were roughly 7,000 such schools in Kagoshima prefecture (formerly [[Satsuma han]]) alone, funded by the prefectural government, and serving roughly 20,000 students.

 

The lead schools, just outside Kagoshima castle, employed English and Dutch teachers, and aimed to prepare students to study abroad in Europe. The schools grew quite strong very quickly, as centers of political activity, and soon grew to have a militarist edge, opposed to the [[Meiji government]]. In 1877, a group of the more radical students from the school attacked a government munitions storehouse, igniting the beginning of the Satsuma Rebellion, in the wake of which the ''shigakkô'' were all shut down.

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==References==

==References==

*Norman, E.H. ''Soldier and Peasant in Japan: The Origins of Conscription''. New York: Institute for Pacific Relations, 1945. p44.

*Norman, E.H. ''Soldier and Peasant in Japan: The Origins of Conscription''. New York: Institute for Pacific Relations, 1945. p44.

[[Category:Meiji Period]]

[[Category:Meiji Period]]