Chatan Choshu

• Born: 1618?
• Died: 1653/3/23, Kagoshima
• Japanese: 北谷王子朝秀 (Chatan ouji Choushuu)

Prince Chatan Chôshû was a grandson of King Shô Kyû of the Ryûkyû Kingdom.

He headed a mission in 1638 to Kagoshima to celebrate the succession of Shimazu Mitsuhisa as lord of Satsuma han, and was named "Prince" on that occasion, at the age of 20. In 1653, at the age of 35, he was then appointed to lead a Ryukyuan embassy to Edo; however, after arriving in Kagoshima in 1652/5, he fell ill and died on 1653/3/23, and was replaced as Lead Envoy by Prince Kunjan Seisoku.

Chatan's eldest son Chôten was granted the title of Prince Kin, and served as lead envoy on a mission to Edo in 1671.

References

• Miyagi Eishô 宮城栄昌, Ryûkyû shisha no Edo nobori 琉球使者の江戸上り, Tokyo: Daiichi Shobô (1982), 42-44.