Changes

*''Other Names'': 市来正右衛門 ''(Ichiki Shouemon)''

*''Other Names'': 市来正右衛門 ''(Ichiki Shouemon)'', 広貫 ''(Kôkan)''

*''Japanese'': [[市来]]四郎 ''(Ichiki Shirou)''

*''Japanese'': [[市来]]四郎 ''(Ichiki Shirou)''

Ichiki Shirô was a retainer to [[Satsuma han]] who played a central role in the [[Makishi-Onga Incident]], operating secretly at the orders of [[Shimazu Nariakira]] to replace key officials in the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryukyuan government]] with those of a pro-Nariakira faction, and to pursue certain diplomatic & trade arrangements with Western powers, including, chiefly, in order to obtain arms and warships from the French.

Ichiki Shirô was a retainer to [[Satsuma han]] who played a prominent role in a number of events pertaining to [[Shimazu Nariakira|Shimazu Nariakira's]] policies and activities in the [[Bakumatsu period]].

 

One such event was the [[Makishi-Onga Incident]], in which Ichiki operated secretly at Nariakira's orders to replace key officials in the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryukyuan government]] with those of a pro-Nariakira faction, and to pursue certain diplomatic & trade arrangements with Western powers, including, chiefly, in order to obtain arms and warships from the French.

Nariakira sent Ichiki to the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] in autumn [[1857]] to arrange for Ryûkyû to establish trade relations with the French and [[VOC|Dutch]]; since Ryûkyû was outside of the ''bakuhan'' (i.e. [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]]+[[han|domains]]) realm, i.e. outside of "Japan," but was under the control of Satsuma, this would provide Satsuma its own separate access to foreign trade and diplomatic relations. Ichiki arrived in [[Naha]] on 1857/10/10, and met with members of the [[Sanshikan]] (the three top-ranking royal advisors) on 11/3. He conveyed to them seven instructions from Nariakira: (1) that Ryûkyû should arrange for Dutch or French trade either at [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] or [[Yamakawa]]<ref>Both of these places were under the direct control of Satsuma, not Ryûkyû, so it seems an odd request.</ref>; (2) that Ryûkyû should arrange to purchase steamship warships from the French, for Satsuma's use; (3) that Ryukyuan students should be sent to the US, Britain, and France to study modern forms of government, industry, and military matters; (4) that an anchorage should be built on [[Taiwan]] for Ryukyuan ships traveling to China<ref>This also would have been outside of the jurisdiction of Ryukyuan authorities, though it is potentially conceivable that Ryûkyû could have secured this arrangement through discussion with Beijing.</ref>; (5) that the [[Ryukyu-kan|Liuqiuguan]] in [[Fuzhou]] should be expanded, and trade with China also expanded; (6) that Ryûkyû should get involved in the Chinese arms trade; and (7) that [[Zakimi Morihiro]] should be dismissed from the Sanshikan.

Nariakira sent Ichiki to the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] in autumn [[1857]] to arrange for Ryûkyû to establish trade relations with the French and [[VOC|Dutch]]; since Ryûkyû was outside of the ''bakuhan'' (i.e. [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]]+[[han|domains]]) realm, i.e. outside of "Japan," but was under the control of Satsuma, this would provide Satsuma its own separate access to foreign trade and diplomatic relations. Ichiki arrived in [[Naha]] on 1857/10/10, and met with members of the [[Sanshikan]] (the three top-ranking royal advisors) on 11/3. He conveyed to them seven instructions from Nariakira: (1) that Ryûkyû should arrange for Dutch or French trade either at [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] or [[Yamakawa]]<ref>Both of these places were under the direct control of Satsuma, not Ryûkyû, so it seems an odd request.</ref>; (2) that Ryûkyû should arrange to purchase steamship warships from the French, for Satsuma's use; (3) that Ryukyuan students should be sent to the US, Britain, and France to study modern forms of government, industry, and military matters; (4) that an anchorage should be built on [[Taiwan]] for Ryukyuan ships traveling to China<ref>This also would have been outside of the jurisdiction of Ryukyuan authorities, though it is potentially conceivable that Ryûkyû could have secured this arrangement through discussion with Beijing.</ref>; (5) that the [[Ryukyu-kan|Liuqiuguan]] in [[Fuzhou]] should be expanded, and trade with China also expanded; (6) that Ryûkyû should get involved in the Chinese arms trade; and (7) that [[Zakimi Morihiro]] should be dismissed from the Sanshikan.

In addition to the commercial & diplomatic aspects, this scheme also involved a conspiracy to eliminate Zakimi ''ueekata'' - who was opposed to Nariakira's plans - from high government position, and to simultaneously elevate co-conspirators [[Makishi Chochu|Makishi Chôchû]] and [[Onga Choko|Onga Chôkô]]. This came to light within the Ryukyuan government in [[1859]], and came to be known as the Makishi-Onga Incident. [[Ie Chochoku|Prince Ie Chôchoku]] led an investigation in which Makishi, Onga, and a third Ryukyuan official, [[Oroku Ryochu|Oroku Ryôchû]], were found guilty and were severely punished; Ichiki escaped without incident, but went into hiding for a time.

In addition to the commercial & diplomatic aspects, this scheme also involved a conspiracy to eliminate Zakimi ''ueekata'' - who was opposed to Nariakira's plans - from high government position, and to simultaneously elevate co-conspirators [[Makishi Chochu|Makishi Chôchû]] and [[Onga Choko|Onga Chôkô]]. This came to light within the Ryukyuan government in [[1859]], and came to be known as the Makishi-Onga Incident. [[Ie Chochoku|Prince Ie Chôchoku]] led an investigation in which Makishi, Onga, and a third Ryukyuan official, [[Oroku Ryochu|Oroku Ryôchû]], were found guilty and were severely punished; Ichiki escaped without incident, but went into hiding for a time.

Ichiki is also known as a notable early Japanese photographer. His daguerreotype photograph of Nariakira, taken in [[1857]], is the oldest known surviving photograph taken by a Japanese person. Held as an object of reverence and worship at [[Terukuni Shrine]] for many years, the glass-plate photograph was then lost, but resurfaced in a warehouse in 1975. Becoming in 1999 the first photograph to be designated an [[Important Cultural Property]] by the Japanese government, it is today in the collection of the [[Museum of the Meiji Restoration]] in Kagoshima.<ref>Philbert Ono, "[http://photoguide.jp/txt/PhotoHistory_1999 Photo History 1999]," Photoguide.jp.; gallery labels, Museum of the Meiji Restoration.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/21361202662/in/album-72157647540990005/]</ref>

Ichiki is also known as a notable early Japanese photographer. His daguerreotype photograph of Nariakira, taken in [[1857]], is the oldest known surviving photograph taken by a Japanese person. Held as an object of reverence and worship at [[Terukuni Shrine]] for many years, the glass-plate photograph was then lost, but resurfaced in a warehouse in 1975. Becoming in 1999 the first photograph to be designated an [[Important Cultural Property]] by the Japanese government, it is today in the collection of the [[Museum of the Meiji Restoration]] in Kagoshima.<ref>Philbert Ono, "[http://photoguide.jp/txt/PhotoHistory_1999 Photo History 1999]," Photoguide.jp.; gallery labels, Museum of the Meiji Restoration.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/21361202662/in/album-72157647540990005/]</ref>