Kaei 4 (嘉永四年)
Timeline of 1851
- 1851/2/2 Shimazu Narioki steps down as lord of Satsuma han, and is succeeded by Shimazu Nariakira.
- 1851/2/3 (March 5) Japanese crew of the merchant ship Eirikimaru which had been adrift at sea for 53 days before being rescued by the American merchant ship Aukland, including Kumano no Denkichi, arrive in San Francisco.
Other Events of 1851
- The first World's Fair / Great Exposition style event, The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Crystal Palace Exhibition, is held at Crystal Palace in London. Some Japanese objects, owned by European collectors, are shown.
- Hijikata Toshizô begins studying Tennen Rishin-ryû kenjutsu.
- John Manjirô arrives in Ryukyu aboard an American ship, on his way back to Japan from the United States.
- Two kabuki adaptations of Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji are debuted.
- Publishers' Associations (toiya nakama) are restored, and censorship duties pass to representatives appointed by the publishers, from minor officials appointed by the shogunate.
- Shimazu Nariakira begins operations at the Shûseikan.
Births and Deaths
- Shogunal official Mizuno Tadakuni dies (b. 1794).
- Mizuno Jun, first Chief of Home Affairs of Taiwan, is born (d. 1900).
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