Changes

Tomoatsu traveled to [[Shanghai]] in [[1862]] as a member of an official [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]] mission; during his time there, he arranged with Scottish merchant [[Thomas Glover]] for the domain's purchase of a steamship.<ref>Hellyer, 194.</ref> Godai would later claim that his experiences as a student in [[Nagasaki]] and in Shanghai, and his experiences being in contact with the British during the Royal Navy's [[1863]] [[bombardment of Kagoshima]] (also known as the Anglo-Satsuma War) gave him a new perspective in admiring the accomplishments of Western nations. As a result, he suggested to the domain leadership the following year a plan to increase domainal revenues by shipping products from [[Ezo]], such as [[konbu|kelp]], along with rice, raw silk, and the like directly to Shanghai. This was presented as a radical new idea, but in fact was well in line with what the domain had already been doing, albeit within Japan.

Tomoatsu traveled to [[Shanghai]] in [[1862]] as a member of an official [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]] mission; during his time there, he arranged with Scottish merchant [[Thomas Glover]] for the domain's purchase of a steamship.<ref>Hellyer, 194.</ref> Godai would later claim that his experiences as a student in [[Nagasaki]] and in Shanghai, and his experiences being in contact with the British during the Royal Navy's [[1863]] [[bombardment of Kagoshima]] (also known as the Anglo-Satsuma War) gave him a new perspective in admiring the accomplishments of Western nations. As a result, he suggested to the domain leadership the following year a plan to increase domainal revenues by shipping products from [[Ezo]], such as [[konbu|kelp]], along with rice, raw silk, and the like directly to Shanghai. This was presented as a radical new idea, but in fact was well in line with what the domain had already been doing, albeit within Japan.

In spring [[1865]], Godai toured Europe alongside [[Niiro Hisanaga]] and 14 [[Satsuma students|students]], traveling to Britain, Belgium, France, and Prussia, visiting factories and purchasing industrial equipment and arms. He signed an agreement with Belgian/French entrepreneur [[Charles Comte de Montblanc]] later that year in which Montblanc would contribute to opening mining operations in Satsuma, along with factories to produce steel, weapons, textiles, and [[tea]]. The agreement also involved opening three ports in [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû]], and having Montblanc facilitate the display of the domain's products at the [[1867 Paris World's Fair]].

In spring [[1865]], Godai helped organize a European tour for [[Niiro Hisanaga]] and 14 [[Satsuma students|students]], traveling with them to Britain, Belgium, France, and Prussia, visiting factories and purchasing industrial equipment and arms. He signed an agreement with Belgian/French entrepreneur [[Charles Comte de Montblanc]] later that year in which Montblanc would contribute to opening mining operations in Satsuma, along with factories to produce steel, weapons, textiles, and [[tea]]. The agreement also involved opening three ports in [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû]], and having Montblanc facilitate the display of the domain's products at the [[1867 Paris World's Fair]].

Returning to Japan in [[1866]], Godai met with [[Choshu han|Chôshû han]] officials in the tenth month of that year to negotiate arrangements for closer commercial ties between the two domains.

Returning to Japan in [[1866]]/3, Godai met with [[Choshu han|Chôshû han]] officials in the tenth month of that year to negotiate arrangements for closer commercial ties between the two domains.

 

Following the [[Meiji Restoration]], Godai played a prominent role in the modernization of Japan's economy, and served as the first head of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (大阪商法会議所会).

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==References==

==References==

*Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 200-203.

*Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 200-203.

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[[Category:Bakumatsu]]

[[Category:Bakumatsu]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]